Kaieteur News

GECOM’s DCEO K NEWS released on $300,000 bail

Saturday Edition

AIETEUR

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

October 10, 2020 - Vol. 14 No. 39

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com

- Lowenfield’s trial to start p. in November 2

Price $80

Online readership yesterday 104,747

Payara ExxonMobil made to adhere Licence… to int’l best practices on p.

3

decommissioning for Stabroek Block Claudette Singh Harmon continues to Give Guyanese a chance! accused of 14p. claim ignorance on facilitating abuse of GECOM award of Kaieteur, p.

8 Canje Blocks staffers’ rights Customer sets Liberalisation of Caricom Auto Telecoms Sector creates a level Sales’ storagep. p.

3 playing field 16 facility alight - President Irfaan Ali

Health officials say...

G$17M testing Collision at machine to significantly reduce waiting time Chateau Margot for COVID-19 results leaves two dead p.

8

p.

11

A fourth group has returned prime lands in Ogle to NICIL. We commend all four groups and the people behind them for doing the right thing, the honourable thing. We recognize and applaud them for what could be costly but shouldn't be.

The other groups that received similar parcels of those Ogle prime lands should take shame off their faces and return those lands without further delay.

President Ali should, through NICIL, welcome the return of those pieces of prime real estate and then do something more.

We call upon His Excellency to take those same returned lands and offer them to Guyanese, who are interested and have the financial wherewithal, to make the best use of those plots for the betterment of their families, fellow citizens, and this nation. We remind President Ali that charity begins at home, and that we Guyanese should have first chance to choose these kinds of lands. Give us the

opportunity to do right for ourselves by doing right by us, Mr. President.

This is why we applaud the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Zulfikar Mustafa, for courteously and skilfully parrying the overture from the Chilean Ambassador looking for an outlet here for his country's exports of fruits and other agricultural produce. We heard Minister Mustafa loudly and clearly: help us with expertise but allow us to develop our agricultural base and stand on our own feet.

This is what we believe this government should be looking to do in every area of our endeavours, so that we can explore and exploit to our satisfaction the many rich gifts that have been given to us. This means our prime lands; it means all our mineral wealth. And, most of all, it means our oil.

Give Guyanese a chance to prove themselves and prosper in their own space and their own terms.

President Ali: are you listening? How do you, Sir, plan on responding?

Church of England dumps Exxon’s stocks over poor climate record p.

13

Who really owns the Kaieteur and Canje oil blocks, do the leaders of this land care to tell the nation?

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 02

GECOM's DCEO released on - Lowenfield's trial $300,000 bail to start in November D

By Renay Sambach

eputy Chief Elections O f f i c e r , Roxanne Myers, was yesterday released on $300,000, bail for two charges in relation to her actions during the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections.

Myers made her first court appearance with her attorneys, Nigel Hughes and Ronald Daniels, in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Myers was slapped with two counts of misconduct in public office and she was not required to plead to the indictable charge that was read to her.

State Prosecutor Tarique Mohamed made objections to bail being granted to Myers based on the seriousness of the offence and the fact that the police were unable to make contact with the defendant for over a month. However, Chief

Magistrate McLennan granted Myers bail in the sum of $150,000 on each charge, and the matter was adjourned to October 23, 2020. Myers was arrested on Tuesday, October 6, 2020, after she turned herself in at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.

This happened less than 24 hours after it was made public that Myers was wanted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) for questioning in relation to the investigation of fraud during the 2020 elections period.

According to police, for more than a month several efforts were made to contact Myers at home and even at her place of work in relation to post-March 2, 2020 elections incidents.

However, those efforts were futile, police said, as Myers made every effort to elude them. As a result, a wanted bulletin for Myers was prepared by the GPF but before it was issued, she

Chief Elections Officer, Keith Lowenfield at court yesterday

turned up at CID Headquarters in the company of her attorneys.

Meanwhile, the trial for the matter against the Chief Elections Officer, Keith

Lowenfield, is scheduled to commence in November.

Yesterday Lowenfield made another appearance in the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Principal Magistrate, Faith McGusty, for the continuation of the criminal charges that were filed against him. The c h a rg e s a l l e g e f r a u d , misconduct in public office, and breach of the public's trust.

The criminal charges were filed against Lowenfield on June 30, 2020, by People's Progressive Party (PPP) member, Desmond Morian, and The New Movement Party (TNM) executive, Dr. Daniel Josh Kanhai.

Ye s t e r d a y , w h i l e speaking to reporters, one of Lowenfield's lawyer, Senior Counsel Neil Boston, said his client has to return to court on October 23, 2020, to receive the remaining statements of witnesses that are expected to testify against him and on November 13, 2020, the trial

Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers, leaving court yesterday is expected to begin for the charges filed by Morian and on November 20, 2020, the trial for the charge filed by Kanhai.

Police announced in August last that they will be conducting a comprehensive investigation into the criminal conduct of Lowenfield; the Returning Officer of Region Four, Clairmont Mingo, and others in relation to the March 2, 2020 General and Regional

Elections and the events that followed.

Mingo was slapped with four charges that allege that he misconducted himself in public office. He is also before another court facing a joint electoral fraud charge, with former Health Minister and PNC/R Chairperson, Ms. Volda Lawrence, for conspiracy to commit fraud.

Mingo's next court dates are November 16, 2020 and December 15, 2020.

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 10, 2020

PAGE 03

Payara ExxonMobil made to adhere Licence‌ to int'l best practices on

decommissioning for Stabroek Block W

hen the life of an oil project nears its end, the operator engages in a p r o c e s s c a l l e d decommissioning. This calls for the plugging of wells along with the removal of equipment and other special materials that would have been attached to the sea floor for the extraction of the oil.

The cost of this activity can run into billions of dollars for the operator and in the absence of any proper safety standards to guide the process; the environment could be left with significant damage.

To ensure that Guyana is not left in this predicament from a financial and environmental perspective, the People's Progressive Party / Civic (PPP/C) demanded that ExxonMobil adhere to international best practices regarding decommissioning

for the Stabroek Block. This was clearly outlined in the provisions of the Production Licence that was approved for ExxonMobil's third offshore project called Payara.

According to the terms of the production licence, the Minister and his representatives along with ExxonMobil are expected to meet and discuss the principles that would be addressed in the Stabroek Block Decommissioning Security Agreement. That discussion is expected to take place 30 days after the licence has been awarded, that is to say, from September 24, 2020.

Thirty days following the discussion between the parties, ExxonMobil is required to submit to the Minister, a draft Stabroek Block Decommissioning Security Agreement. That draft is expected to contain

information on the timely posting of security for the anticipated costs for the safe removal of the infrastructure in place in the Stabroek Block.

The costs are expected to be laid out following the United Kingdom Industry M o d e l F o r m Decommissioning Security Agreement or be consistent with international best practice standards.

One month after receiving and reviewing this document, the Minister is expected to provide ExxonMobil with the relevant feedback and host discussions on same.

The licence goes on to state that no later than March 31, 2022, ExxonMobil is expected to present the Minister with the final agreement which would be signed at least 21 days after it is reviewed by the Minister.

Liberalisation of Telecoms Sector creates a level playing field - Pres. Ali

P

resident Irfaan Ali has said that benefits from the recently liberalised telecommunications sector in Guyana will have farreaching impacts.

The Head of State made this pronouncement during a recent interview where he also emphasized that breaking the monopoly creates equal opportunities at the business end, but more so delivers benefits for consumers.

"It is a level playing field that is based on size, gross income and so on. But the ultimate objective is for the Guyanese people; for them to have faster internet, more efficient, less costly and better bandwidth."

Just two days ago, the government issued the Commencement Orders, fully bringing into force the Telecommunications Act 2016 (the "Act") and the Public Utilities Commission Act. The orders, which occurred within two months of the government assuming office, are historic, as they a l i g n G u y a n a ' s telecommunications regime to those found in other countries the world over.

"We moved from a position, a year ago, where you

President Irfaan Ali were hearing from one of the major providers that they were cutting staff, to a position today when there is an advertisement in the newspaper for staff. And they all said one thing, that Guyanese people can expect a better service, a more reliable service, a cheaper service.

They've all said that," President Ali noted, as he pointed to the impact of the recent move.

In expounding on additional benefits of the liberalisation and its impact on job creation, the Head of State said, "As you're aware the call centres can add important additional income to the population. If you put a call

centre for example in Tuschen (East Bank Essequibo) and you train housewives who are otherwise at home to work in that call centre, and they earn even $70,000 a month, that is $70,000 additional income to that family."

President Ali further added that while Guyana traditionally had a competitive edge in the provision of services at call centres, owing to the language and investment regime, the high cost of bandwidth was a major challenge. " We a r e t h e m o s t competitive in terms of language because our accent is considered neutral. We had a good investment regime, but the cost of bandwidth was too much. That is resolved. And, as all the providers said, Guyana can expect ratings, and I have no doubt, this will bring great things for us," he explained.

The legislation creates a clear, harmonised framework and a level playing field for the sector. The government has reaffirmed its willingness to work with all stakeholders to ensure that every Guyanese has affordable access to quality and modern services.

They have also assured that existing operators will not be disadvantaged.

PAGE 4

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL - Tel: 624-6456 Editor: Sharmain Grainger Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Those deleted social media posts There is this practice that is extremely dangerous in which the reckless and malicious engage and get away with every time. Calculating people, so-called popular participants in social media post intentionally provocative positions that foster terrible agitations. These, in turn, stir firestorms of like nature with frenzied free-for-all resulting.

The problem is that when the inevitable exposure occurs, the perpetrators beat the hastiest of cowardly retreats. They delete offensive and divisive posts that trace back to them.

Posts (later deleted) that were originally intended to disparage and discriminate, deceive and divide, or drive into madness for dangerous ends are unprincipled and unsavoury, and say so much of the authors.

It says that such manufacturers and authors are liars and frauds, cowardly people, who lack the courage of their convictions. In fact, the only conviction harboured is to wound, by any method, and available media channel misused to trash perceived enemies, be they individuals or groups.

When posts of positions put in the public, through social media, with much fanfare and following, are deleted, it is the equivalent of a brainless idiot, a certifiable imbecile, shouting ‘fire’ or ‘gun’ in a teeming marketplace, and then quickly disappearing into the massed and agitated mob created on a whim.

Unreconstructed racists and proud bigots do so and succeed; at least, for a time. Revisionists and those with axes to grind do it, and followers who are similarly riotous minded engage in these kinds of posts, only to beat skulking retreat when confronted by the evidence of their handiwork.

They hustle to delete that which inflamed and possibly imperiled. Sometimes, even the anonymity of social media is not enough to camouflage identity or output history. It is how a wonderful development, the awesome technology revolution and reach can be mangled and misused for the worst of purposes. That is, to hurt people and to strip them of standing and dignity. It is wrong, no matter how charitably looked at; it is what the technology companies that made this modern way of life possible should be compelled to do something about for the better of all.

The technologies and tech giants are sophisticated enough and deep-pocketed enough, to be able to do something constructive and acceptable, through minimum standards, for all posts. The know-how is present and, so too, are the peoples and skills available, to facilitate confronting the negativity deployed on social media platforms, towards compelling users to adhere to rigorous pre-screening, and in policing what follows.

This is more than about flagging phrases and filtering against a set dictionary of problematic words. It is about continuing efforts at identification from the beginning and detection, through familiarity with the latest slangs and colloquialisms identified and blocked. If things and people can be blocked after the fact, they can be blocked at the inception. And, as for those who are bent on sowing dissension and hatreds, then a platform-wide bar must be the weapon of choice and should suffice to cool the fires that are many times stoked.

Further, laws ought to be enacted that force tech companies and their executives to oversee their universe more comprehensively and robustly. Provisions must be made to set up roadblocks and traps to deter or contain the combustible in the mix. They must be caught before they do damage to others. Intragroup peer pressure can help, though this is a longshot, given our disturbed state. Official and civic sentinels have their hands full but where there is a will there is a way that can be found to guide on overcoming that which seeks to divide ad destroy.

Freedom of speech brings responsibility, requires civility, and powers decency. Some prefer to stay as far as possible from social media, given its capacity for the ugly and the dirty, the unthinkable and the unacceptable. Political correctness works both ways, applies to all. Honest public presences obey the traditional when they share in the mainstream. What is presented in ink, is as good as written in stone. Archives do not lie. It is where social media must be. Deleted posts say much of those who practice deceits.

The best is that they are the scum of some despised placed.

GT&T will now be forced to get its act together DEAR EDITOR, At last the liberalising in the communications sector in Guyana is an old wish come through for me and the time for GT&T to take their knees off the necks of their greatly dissatisfied customers’ necks.

GT&T is the worst utility provider in the country and hereunder is the reason for my comment.

At the end of March 2020 I was billed $19,800 by GT&T for my Blaze account

#22057029. This amount they claimed was due to me not shutting down my DSL service after the installation of the Blaze therefore I was charged for the month. I agreed and paid the bill in full.

About 3:00pm on Saturday April 11, 2020 my Blaze connection was disconnected and to date October 11, 2020 is still disconnected. I had visited GT&T after receiving an electronic bill for the sum of $13,000.On checking it was

discovered that the entire $19,000 was paid into the DSL bill. I then pointed out that my $19,000 was in the coffers of GT&T and they needed to make the necessary arrangements for my re connection.

I was then informed that I only have to pay $2,700 and all will be well. I paid that sum also only to be told after by another customer representative that the sum is $$1,300 dollars and given a royal runaround at the same

time.

My account should not have been disconnected in the first place due to my full payment of both accounts.

I have been spending a large amount of money by purchasing mobile internet.

There is one option legally for me and I have already began that process.

It’s time to raise the bar and GT&T will now be forced to get their act together. No tears from me on that one.

Orin Major

COVID-19 exposes true reality DEAR EDITOR, Hyper-reality is an image or simulation, or an aggregate of images and simulations, that either distorts the reality it purports to depict or does not in fact depict anything with a real existence at all, but which nonetheless comes to constitute reality. 2020 is the year when many people are waking up to the fact that the entire world is not based on justice and equality or that all people are equal while some people are worth more than others because they are essential. Most of reality accepted by the masses is a hyper-reality or an ideal.

COVID-19 exposed an unjust world and the consequences of inequalities. When people had their jobs and could party, socialize and engage in sports, movie theatre, they accepted that the world is fair and beautiful because their reality is filled with entertainment which is only a pleasant distraction from reality. Whether capitalism, socialism or communism, the rules are made in favour of the

ruling elites.

The first illusion that was shattered globally is that police exist to protect and serve the general public. The global protest against police brutality is an indication that the world is realizing that police and other security forces are at the behest of the top 10 percent of the society who are usually white or almost white. Black lives matter is a subset of poor people’s life matter. Police do not usually interfere with a person that can hire a high power lawyer and have resources to fight back.

Blacks globally are usually the masses of people at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Racism is a justification that some people deserve to be poor and powerless. The average person in the Caribbean blames the gang members and other criminals for the erosion of their quality of life but no one was born bad. Who are the people who have the most control over our societies? …The rich and powerful and

their political collaborators.

According to B.F. Skinner, ”Society attacks early, when the individual is helpless. The ideal of behaviourism is to eliminate coercion: to apply controls by changing the environment in such a way as to reinforce the kind of behaviour that benefits everyone.”

Why do thousands of people have to depend on government assistance to survive while a few are living lavishly? It is not because they work harder or are smarter, it is because they are connected.

Researchers in the US found that they could push people to the right by distracting them, putting them under pressure or simply telling them not to think too hard. Participants who were asked to deliberate more deeply, in contrast, shifted their political thinking to the left. Similar effects have been seen with the three core components of conservative ideology: preference for the status quo, acceptance of hierarchy and belief in

personal responsibility. All three, the researchers say, come naturally to the human mind. Left wing politics have become right wing in disguised because both represent the interest of big business.

Socialism and capitalism are different wings of the same bird. China is an allegedly communist country that dominates the world economically because both systems are compatible.

Ordinary people are the majority but do not have control of their own lives.

They work for someone else, they are guided by the dominant culture, through leaders and so on, because they live in a simulation that teaches them that the power is with government and business tycoon. That is true only if they comply. If they resist in masses no commerce can happen. “The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” ¯ Joe Klaas, Twelve Steps to Happiness Brian E. Plummer

No stone unturned in the pursuit of drug traffickers DEAR EDITOR, The contents of the Granger COI into the actions of CANU’s James Singh were never meant to be public; the COI was set up as a means to railroad Singh. What the COI inadvertently revealed may have been a critical factor in the breakdown in trust between the United States and David Granger; furthermore, in light of the speedy signing of a ‘Shiprider’ agreement between the United States and the Irfaan Ali administration the contents of the COI fully exonerate James Singh and certainly deserve deeper examination.

James Singh acted on a tip he received from the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, demonstrating that he (Singh) was trusted by that agency and could be counted to act in the best interest of law and order. Against the greatest of odds, the CANU

head located a boat capable of intercepting the suspected drug vessel, and with U.S Coast Guard assistance brought the semi-submersible to Guyana’s shores. The vessel was searched by DEA and CANU agents and no drugs were found. In the absence of any legal reason to detain the vessel and with the full agreement of the DEA agents (who also assisted with interviewing the vessel’s crew) the vessel was released.

What were the ‘flawed judgments’ as perceived by Granger’s inquisitors? That James Singh cooperated with the DEA? That despite the absence of equipment and technology capable of tracking and intercepting semi-submersible vessels Singh allowed the U.S Coast Guard to enter Guyanese waters without being a signatory to a ‘shiprider’ agreement? Was Singh

expected to throw up his hands and say there was nothing he could do when informed of the vessel’s presence when informed by the DEA? Was it a bad idea for Singh to use his initiative in pursuit of suspected drug traffickers? If James Singh broke laws as alleged, why wasn’t Singh charged? Is that not the purpose of COI’s? (more on this later) The COI also claims that the DEA and CANU agents did not consider the possibility that there may have been cocaine liquefied in the three drums of diesel fuel onboard the vessel; anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of the DEA and CANU would find this laughable and the ‘kangaroo’ style COI asserted that they were unable to ask the DEA agents any questions because of the fear that said agents would invoke diplomatic immunity. To be

pellucid, this is an allegation that the DEA agents participated in law-breaking and would need to invoke protection against prosecution. The only flawed judgment this COI reveals is David Granger’s and his choice of inquisitors in the relentless effort to remove the CANU head and replace him with someone less zealous in the pursuit of drug traffickers.

The actions of President Irfaan Ali to make Guyana signatory to a shiprider agreement with the United States not only provides or cooperation between the nations in the area of drug enforcement but also provides for joint maritime security that includes those vital Floating Production Storage and Offloading platforms (FPSO) of our fledgling oil industry.

Without the shiprider (Continued on page 5)

Saturday October 10, 2020

Li’l street criminals and big white collar criminals DEAR EDITOR, I touch upon the daily news, and it usually has coverage about young men caught and jailed. It is the regular fare of robbery on the street, burglary from property, and general robbery under an umbrella of crimes. The petty crooks on the corner are caught and punished, as they should rightly be, and for which a sigh of relief is breathed.

But what about Guyana’s biggest crooks? Why the big fishes, the huge white-collar criminals, are not captured and made to pay for their billion-dollar crimes? Why do we refuse to breathe a thing about what is wrong and weakening for the peoples of this society, who have pinned so much on the promise of oil?

Our white-collar political criminals get away with more than robbing the nation; for while they do so, they get their gangs of fanatical followers to target, seek out, and wound anyone that dare to deliver a different thinking on our oil.

Unthinking defenders of political leaders are just like those who aid and abet the motorcycle bandits, the motorized gunmen who commit and get away with murder.

In similar fashion, our political leaders get away with the equivalent of murder, when one costly oil crime after another is pulled off secretly and successfully, through the conspiratorial contracts made with foreign partners.

The oil companies have a long history of pulling off

such financial coups and oil heists. Our oil thefts alone are in the likely tens of billions of U.S. dollars and no Guyanese is any the wiser, or is sufficiently exercised enough to want to say something and do something about what cheats and impoverishes all of us, except them and their crowd of selfenrichers. It seems as though very few citizens are concerned enough to want to know, to vent their anger at the thieves we have for leaders, who rob us of present and future, both us and our children. They are content with leaders, who paper over and polish with sweet words that are hollow and lacking in truths.

What our oil criminals are doing is tantamount to depreciating the promise of the present and future from every Guyanese, including from those who have no interest, those who have given up on anything positive on our oil, or about Guyana. Our politicians are breaking and entering into our homes and banks accounts that could be made possible by our oil wealth and draining both of everything.

These are the leaders, in government after government, who stand in front of us and deceive us about the billions that they steal from us, which they did before in projects and budgets and gadgets that prospered themselves.

Political leaders succeed because of the ethical midgets they surround themselves

...No stone unturned in the From page 4 agreement, Guyana would be helpless to prevent acts of piracy or terrorism in our waters.

President Ali’s reappointment of James Singh is the icing on the cake and must be pleasing to the DEA and other international

Law enforcement agencies who can once again share information with their Guyanese counterpart secure in the knowledge that Singh would leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of drug traffickers.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

PAGE 5

Kaieteur News

with, who jump to do their bidding.

They get away with their many criminal exploits because they have done such a great job of dividing us.

Where we have little interest in the truths about our rich oil blocks secreted away and given away.

Where we have much patience and tolerance for those who rob us and our children of their rich prospects.

And when we look close enough, it always results in whatever is concealed through crooked middlemen ending with a fat ownership share for Exxon. Why do Guyana’s dark and dirty oil matters always seem to channel to Exxon on every occasion?

A sizable significant ownership interest here, there, and everywhere?

As Guyanese, we insistently and rightly punish our petty criminals, who terrorize our daily existence.

Yet we unheedingly and wrongly resist and refuse any calls to get to the bottom of the oil corruptions of our political criminals.

Still, we support and condone those same political sellouts, who lie to us endlessly about our oil and get away scot-free to boot.

This is how the scales of justice weigh in this society.

The lady is not blindfolded; she is just plain shortsighted, short of breath, and short of wisdom.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Freddie Kissoon is wrong to believe he can denigrate Black leaders and replace them with his voice DEAR EDITOR, Even a cursory glance of the recent articles of Freddie Kissoon reveals that he is on a crusade to take down AfroGuyanese leaders and, more presumptuously, to tell Blacks when to feel disrespected and insulted by these leaders. By this twopronged strategy, is Kissoon hoping to be seen as the sole voice and conscious of AfroGuyanese? His latest target is Dr. Mellissa Ifill, in his KN column of 8th October, titled “Is UG’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Melissa Ifill, displaying ethnic instinct.” Dr. Ifill, no doubt, is highly capable of dealing with Freddie should she care to respond.

I write here to respond to the recurring fundamental fallacies in Kissoon’s columns whenever he speaks about Blackness or, for that matter, Indianness or any other ethnic identity. His comments in his October 8th column on feminism also expose the same flawed and loose thinking. Let me summarize his wrongheadedness as tightly as possible, given the word limit on letters.

One, Kissoon is wrong to assume that Blackness (or Indianness) is, by definition or default, a consciousness that rejects or disrespects other ethnicities. Blackness, at its core, is a belief, feeling and practice that seek due recognition for Black people

no more or no less than what other ethnicities claim or have. Blackness is therefore not about Black supremacy.

It is not about Black domination. It is not about Black selfishness. It is about due rights and freedoms for Blacks. Likewise, feminism (the belief in the equality of the sexes) is not equivalent to sexism (the belief that one’s gender is superior to others).

Two, Kissoon is wrong as he does not know that people are more complex than one or two of their self-identities.

We have multiple intersecting identities, even within a political context alone. A person can identify as Afrocentric and at the same time, say, as a Guyanese nationalist, a socialist, a pacifist or a humanist.

Three, Kissoon is wrong because, outside of our multiple political identities, he ignores the fact that Blackness does not capture our full moral and social shelves.

People’s consciousness is shaped by, apart from their ethnicity and gender, the fact that they also belong or relate to families, social classes, occupations, religions, among others.

Fourth, Kissoon is wrong for he assumes that the answer to his own question “Should non-African employees and students at UG feel they will be treated fairly when the deputy head of the institution openly

exclaims that she lives her life as a black woman?” is no, they should not. Kissoon is denying the possibility and reality that people can and do act fairly and professionally.

Yes, discrimination can and does occur. But people also are pro-social and have moral compasses. Kissoon’s mind is fogged to believe that the cure to unfair treatment lies in people denying all their identities and maybe becoming soulless robots, to believe that Hindu administrators must conceal their religion when dealing with Christians or Muslims, or to believe that perceived or actual fair treatment in hospitals is not possible unless doctors declare no identity or declare the same identity as their patients.

Finally, Kissoon is wrong to believe he can successfully denigrate Black leaders in the eyes of Black people, and worse, he can replace them with his voice.

Sherwood Lowe

PAGE 6

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 10, 2020

Help and Shelter concerned about issues affecting poor people DEAR EDITOR, The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people all over the world, some more than others, but we want to focus on what is happening to us in Guyana. We are concerned about a number of issues affecting poor people in our daily lives in Guyana and we need answers and clarification from the relevant authorities, including and especially from those who have been elected to represent us.

We remain unclear about what measures have been put in place to deal effectively with this pandemic, but what we do know is that poor people are suffering, especially families with children, people with disabilities and the elderly.

Meanwhile, the politicians point fingers and try to score points off each other.

Frontline workers are now in negotiations for improved working conditions, including increased salaries, risk allowance and more personal protective equipment which we know that they deserve. There is no way we can fight this pandemic and other illnesses without them so it is unfair that they should be threatened for protesting for support that they should have received months ago.

They have been working tirelessly, risking their own lives and the lives of their families to save others.

Many of us have lost jobs as a result of the COVID-19

pandemic (domestic workers, bartenders, barbers, hairdressers, to name a few), and have no other sources of income.

The Government’s recent announcement of an allocation of $25,000 dollars to be given to every household is a welcome initiative, but we have further questions: Is this $25,000 dollars a one off payment, or assistance that will be provided on a weekly or monthly basis (and if so, for how long)?

What is the basis for determining if households qualify for support?

We ask these questions because $25,000 is not adequate to offset the financial disaster facing the poor at this time. This amount can’t even begin to buy food much less pay rent, mortgages and other utility bills.

If we break it down, it amounts to $807 - $833 dollars per day in a month of 30 or 31 days.

This is enough for one pack of Natura milk, a loaf of bread and three eggs on any given day.

Meanwhile, the Budget includes the purchase of new vehicles for Ministers. It’s hard not to conclude that everything else always takes priority over the well being of poor people. The problem we continue to have with governments, irregardless of who is in office, is that poor people are always offered pennies while those who already have much, can expect to receive more.

Johnny Nash – three score and twenty equals the hits DEAR EDITOR, I do not think that the word ‘iconic’ does Johnny Nash justice. It takes a great step in the right direction, but falls short somehow; don’t ask me how, but there is that nagging sense that iconic is not enough for a man of this caliber. He was definitely great, and now also late, but Johnny Nash will always be around when people gather, ballads are sung, and hearts rejoice. That much ‘I can see clearly now.’

Oh! That primal scream that soared to the heavens, that brought and forever will bring great tingling with lyrics that pierced and a style so overpowering. Take your pick: ‘Don’t take away your love’ or Ole man river’ or “Get my hat, gimme my coat, I’m leaving.’” Well, he has left us this time. Yes, Johnny Nash is gone from the grand stage at the grand old age of three score and twenty years, and it seems that he has left us with one hit and memory for each of those years. Now

he is on the grandest stage of all, where such celestial delights are savoured by a ready audience of knowing appreciate listeners. What was ours for a long time now belongs to the angels and saints: that croon that stretched out interminably into the rarefied realms of shrieking falsettos that took the breath away and left limp.

Now that longest of breaths that thrilled so many is gone, with the reminders in wax and woof and wi-fi to lighten up our day and our world. They don’t make them like that anymore.

They don’t delight like that anymore these days, where the echoes linger in the silence and through the years.

As company is parted with yet another giant from yesterday, there are ‘Tears on my pillow.’ And on that of many others, I am sure. Rest easy, Johnny. Well, done!

Now sing for the seraphs and saints.

Sincerely, GHK Lall

Many people are homeless or are on the verge of becoming homeless as a result of not being able to pay their rent (and we recognize that this is a difficult situation for many landlords who also have mortgages to pay). We have seen this play out with the situation of settlers in Success on the East Coast of Demerara. In the face of contradictory government responses to their plight, our position is that a rank abuse of power was committed by the police who shot settlers with rubber bullets. We are not condoning illegality but at the same time we cannot close our eyes and ears to the fact that people are suffering, and not just in Success.

Many are in desperate need of somewhere to live. Some have said that they applied for house lots since 2011 and some as early as 2008 and are still waiting. We in Red Thread can relate to that, because we have also been waiting for

many years.

Poor people are continuing to lose confidence in the law enforcers of this country. Over the years families are still awaiting justice for the loss of the lives of their loved ones.

They are now joined most recently by the loved ones of the three young men of West Coast Berbice, Joel Henry, Isaiah Henry and Haresh Singh. It has now been over one month since they met their gruesome deaths and not one person has been charged for those murders. But when poor people stand up for their rights, they are tear gassed, shot with pellets or live rounds, as we have seen in Berbice, Success and most recently in Lusignan Prison. At the same time, we are not seeing enough attention being paid to the increases in domestic violence, femicides and abuse of children; where is the justice for these victims and survivors?

When it comes to education, schools have been reopened (not physically) and online learning

is in effect. However, many children are at a big disadvantage. Many have no access to electronic devices or internet, and this is especially the case for hinterland communities.

Some schools provide print outs or work books for their students, which is very thoughtful, but children need guidance to get their work done and in many households, parents are hardly able to work with their children due to the long hours some of them work just to earn a few extra pennies (like security guards), while some parents and guardians complained that they don’t know the work and therefore cannot help their children.

How is this being taken into consideration?

In the 2020 budget presentation the de facto Finance Minister promised that all Guyanese will be afforded a good education, decent work, be able to start their own businesses, raise and provide for a family, own

their own homes, live in a safe secure environment and retire with dignity. He also said the budget “embodied a no-nonsense, no frills, no fluff, people centered, PROPOOR, results-oriented approach to launch this nation back on its positive development trajectory”. But the bottom line is that the reason people are poor and suffering is because we have an economy that does not cater for us. We make up the majority of the population across geography and race and gender, but we are made to feel the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic because of decisions that are made that do not center the voices of poor people at the decision-making tables.

Sincerely, Wintress White, Susan Collymore, Joy Marcus, Halima Khan, Vanessa Ross For Red Thread

APNU+AFC continues to lose its stripes and strides DEAR EDITOR, As the saying goes, “silence is golden.” Many in the Guyanese society chose to remain silent with guilty conscience during the election period and postelection period, while, many were very vocal and more are now coming out of their shells, directly and indirectly.

It is “food for thought” and Guyana is now becoming more cognizant of the true nature of the silent, dormant, prominent and eminent ones.

Explanations, excuses and expressions are now exposing explicit exuberance in different shades of earnestness by various eminence, some effortlessly and others effectively. As the internal wrangling continues between APNU and AFC to tear them further apart, the WPA is also flabbergasted with riddles and mysteries.

The bottom line is that the PNC/R continues to lose its stripes and strides and thrives to survive a struggle of supremacy and support.

The other coalition parties are toothless and meaningless.

The Coalition’s key players are intricately involved in election rigging and fraud, facing questions and charges; corruption charges; a fight for regional placements; power struggle; playing the blame game and contradictions and flexing of the muscle. Definitely, the APNU and AFC party will no longer see “eyeball to eyeball.” Certainly, sooner, rather than later, accepting that “enough is enough,” many who can no longer digest anymore, will spill their stomachs remorsefully

declaring, “who vex, vex.”

One can sense a degree of alacrity as the air is charged with regrets and a consciousness for a need to confess. Good always triumph over evil and the truth cannot remain hidden forever behind a bundle of lies. The successful presentation of a very potent and diversified budget by the young PPP/C party, not only speaks volumes but also, it is delivering the goods from an election campaign that was founded on promises and hopes and on a premise of reversing the discriminative wrong doings of the APNU+AFC Party. As more Guyanese are awakening from a slumber that saw them dazed from APNU+AFC’s hypocrisy and hypnotism, they are openly embracing President Dr. Irfaan Ali and the PPP/C government, ready and willing to accept this regime to catapult Guyana towards its next developmental stage.

American Marine Inc. is the latest company to come on board with honest integrity. They have joined three other predecessors and have returned 20 acres of prime Ogle lands which were controversially and illegally vested to them by the caretaker government. They should be applauded for their genuine effort to honour transparency and refusing the illegitimate transaction by the APNU+AFC Party.

How early will the remainder join this band of nobility? Attorney General, Mr. Anil Nandlall, had legal reasons to walk the steps of US Secretary of State when

he issued warnings of severe sanctions for any illegal strike by front line health workers who are classified as essential workers. The Guyana Public Service Union has eventually also seen the light and has sensibly and caringly called off the threat to authorize strike action by nurses over risk allowances. The Minister of Health and all Guyanese are proud of this decision and commend Mr. Patrick Yarde and the nurses for this sensitive decision, especially when COVID-19 is attacking left, right and center, regardless of people, personality, profession, prominence or place. Political agitators are certainly winking the wrong eye. The resignation of Mr. David Patterson as General Secretary from the AFC Party raises eyebrows and leaves many curious unanswered questions. It takes time but through a slow, gradual process, Guyanese cannot belie themselves. Both the Commissioner of Police (ag), Nigel Hoppie, and the Chief of Staff, Brigadier Godfrey Bess, are cognizant of potential threats perceived as a violent country-wide disruption by destabilizers to usurp peace.

Social commentators have allegedly started to question the professionalism and integrity of the officers.

In response to these agitators, a release from the Joint Services explicitly warned that, ”The Heads of the Joint Services wish to go on record to state that they are certainly not intrigued by the releases referred to and thus assure all Guyanese that

they will always stand firm in the protection of the law and in the execution of their duties in keeping with their c o n s t i t u t i o n a l responsibilities.” This is indeed a contrast from the days of yore and it breathes a new freshness that is promising, reassuring and fulfilling.

The characteristics of former president David Granger and President Irfaan Ali make a complete difference, in as much as the competence of former Attorney General Basil Williams and current Attorney General Anil Nandlall, does. Their principles, policies and practice separate the men from the boys. As witnessed from the first and last US Vice Presidential debate between Kamla Harris and Mike Pence, in contrast, the performance of Donald Trump and Joe Biden was a debacle! Mike Pence came in cool, calm and collective.

During the show, he was cold, callous and cynical.

Afterwards, he left contrived, composed and comfortable.

On the other-hand, Kamla Harris entered energetic, experienced and expressive.

She transgressed and became explosive, effective and earnest. As she exited, she remained elegant, erudite and efficacious. It was entertainment with civility and vivacity, compounded with perspicacity and audacity, watched by some 50 million viewers. Take note, parliamentarians, there is so much to grasp and learn.

Respectfully, Jai Lall

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L B T LUNT.. UNT...B BL B Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Why threaten lawsuits against those who are providing a public service by exposing rotten and secretive oil deals?

Why not sue those oil companies which have colluded with our corrupt politicians to rob our people of their birthright?

PAGE 07

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 08

Harmon continues to claim Collision at Chateau ignorance on award of Margot leaves two dead Kaieteur, Canje Blocks T

L

eader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, continues to claim ignorance when Kaieteur News questioned him about the giveaway of two lucrative oil blocks in the weeks leading up to the 2015 General and Regional Elections.

Despite it being that the People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) signed away the blocks, the coalition which Harmon leads is just as complicit. It had approved several transfers of interests for the blocks in its governing term, but is likely to have stonewalled efforts by the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) to get information vital to its investigation.

Internationally respected anti-corruption watchdog, Global Witness said in its February 2020 report, Signed Away, that a source close to government informed it of this likelihood.

When asked to respond to the claim during his weekly press conference yesterday, Harmon avoided answering directly.

“Let me say that I am not in a position this week to

Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon indicate to you. But I did say in my press conference last week that we will have a special conference on the question of oil and gas. That has not happened as yet. I will inform you when that will take place. But it is something that the team is looking at carefully.

I am not in a position to say to you anything on those blocks, beyond what I have said and beyond what is published in the media, Kaieteur News in particular.”

The Opposition Leader gave a similar answer in the previous week's virtual conference when asked to reveal the identities of all the beneficial owners of the blocks.

He only offered that he would endeavour to have information provided later, during an oil-specific press conference.

For the entirety of the coalition's term in government, Harmon was a key figure at the helm of the Ministry of the Presidency.

He was Minister of State, then Director General.

Throughout that period, the Ministry of Natural Resources fell under the Presidency.

The coalition would not have had to rely on information from outside sources, since it should have already been in possession of such information while in government.

This is because, every time stakes were transferred in the two blocks, the government is responsible for approving the transfer. In this regard, when signing deals, the government has to know the hands the stakes are leaving, and the hands to which they will go.

wo East Coast Demerara (ECD) men are now dead following a collision on the Chateau Margot Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The accident occurred at around 06:45hrs yesterday.

A police report stated that the dead men are 52year-old Lionel Brower of Bachelors Adventure, ECD, who was said to be a security guard attached to the Demerara Bank's East Coast branch, and 24-yearold Kevin Persaud, a mechanic who resided at Goedverwagting, ECD. The report further stated that Brower was riding motorcycle CJ 7916, while Persaud was driving motorcar PEE 3030.

According to the police report, “the motorcycle was proceeding east on the southern side of the road with the car proceeding in the said

Brower's motorcycle direction at a very fast rate and without explanation collided into the rear of the motorcycle.”

Following the collision, Persaud lost control of his car and ended up in a canal situated on the northern side of the road while the motorcycle was flung to the southern side of the thoroughfare. Brower landed some 100 feet east of the southern side of the road.

The men received serious

The heavily damaged vehicle that was driven by Persaud

injuries to their bodies and were both picked up in an unconscious state and transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) where they both underwent examinations and were pronounced dead by a doctor on duty.

T he bodies of the deceased which are awaiting post mortems are currently being kept in the GPHC mortuary.

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 09

Transparency is needed to stem the spread of COVID-19 T

here were four COVID-19 deaths yesterday, including a 28 year-old man.

We will have to wait and see whether the explanation was that he had underlying conditions.

In the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak here, the media used to follow-up on deaths. They somehow used to manage to obtain the names of those dying and speak to their relatives. This allowed for the public to obtain a general idea as to how the disease was being spread.

For weeks now, this reporting has disappeared.

More than 80 persons have died over the past two months. Yet, the reporters have not provided the sort of reports which they were able to do in the past.

It may be that the authorities have tightened up on the confidentiality of the names of the dead. However, we live in a small society and word spreads fast.

It should not be difficult for the media to trace the identities of those who died.

The families rather than fearing a breach of privacy should view media enquiries as contributing to a better understanding of the spread of the virus. Perhaps, the best tribute that they can pay to their relatives who died from COVID-19 complications is to make the public more enlightened about this

disease by giving information about how their loved ones may have contracted the disease, when they sought treatment and whether they had underlying conditions.

A great many elderly persons are dying at present.

And of the questions which are being asked is how did these persons contract the virus? Was it a case where younger family members brought it into the home?

Was it believed to be spread through contact with others?

Was it spread outside or inside of the home? Was institutional spread involved?

There are still thousands of persons out there who are refusing to take precautions.

Many of them believe that COVID-19 is not in Guyana and that deaths are being attributed to the virus which is being caused by other factors? Some people believe that even if they contract it, they will beat it off. They are oblivious that if they contract it they can transmit it easily to husbands, wives, children, parents and grandparents.

The media has an important role to play in helping to fight this disease.

And it is disappointing that the relatives of those who died from the virus are not coming forward to warn Guyanese that this virus is real and that it is dangerous.

A vaccine is going to

come. But that will take another five months. At the rate at which the deaths are taking place, Guyana cannot afford to wait five months.

The virus has to be slowed down. This means that the public must have more information about the local spread, including the areas where infections are taking place.

There is no stigma attached to having the coronavirus. And therefore infected persons need not feel ashamed. This is a virus that is highly contagious and can therefore spread very quickly throughout a community. If someone knows that there is a case in his or her community, that person is likely to take more precautions. But if the person does not know, then that person may not take the necessary precautions and may become infected.

This is one of the main reasons why it is important for the public to be told not just about the number of recoveries but also about the number of active cases in each Region and for these cases just where are the COVID-19 hotspots so that mass testing can be accelerated in those areas.

Keeping the location of infections secret, actually works against reducing the spread. No one is asking for the specific name and address of infected persons but only the dispersion by

Silence is not boys seh... always golden Dem

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f you see when somebody gets rob and de police come and ask you if you see the person who committed the act, do you have a right to say that you reserve the right to be silent? Dem boys nah think suh.

As far as dem boys know, de law requires you to cooperate with the police. If you see a crime and you keep quiet, then that can be interpreted to mean that you frustrating the course of justice. In English common law, dem does call it perverting the course of justice. In America dem does

call it obstructing justice.

De last time dem boys check, a crime is a crime.

And de police gat a right fuh investigate any crime regardless of whether it tek place in a constitutional body or not. Fraud is fraud and de police can investigate any fraud.

And people obligated to cooperate with de police.

You have a right to remain silent. But if de police believe you have knowledge or ought to have knowledge of something and you nah talking, then dem gat every right to press charges for perverting the course of justice.

Think about what would happen to justice in this world, if everybody could pick up demselves and decide dat dem nah talk wah dem see. The world would end up in chaos and justice would be dead.

It mek dem boys remember the story of a man in an interrogation room.

The man shouted, “I'm not saying a word without my lawyer present.”

“You are the lawyer,” said the policeman.

“Exactly, so where's my present?” replied the lawyer.

Talk half and leff de other half fuh when you see wrongdoing.

village or town or community, of the active cases.

A 28-year-old died yesterday from the coronavirus. Did that person

have underlying conditions?

The lack of information creates more uncertainty and distrust. And that cannot be helpful in stemming the spread of the virus.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Saturday October 10, 2020

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

AFC in 2020: Does life have meaning?

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n the life of every human, dead and living, they once experienced a moment in which they listened to a song, read the headline in the newspaper about a prominent place, heard the mention of the name of a famous singer or movie, looked at a photograph, and then uttered silently; “where did it all go, does life have any meaning?”

When the budget debate was in session, and I saw the photo of Raphael Trotman in the newspaper with the story of his remarks on the budget, I was momentarily stunned.

My mind asked me if that was Trotman in 2020 in the opposition.

You realize it was real. It is Trotman.

So what happened to Trotman, his political partner, Khemraj Ramjattan, and their close friends who created history

by removing the PPP through election and became the rulers of Guyana? How did Trotman and Ramjattan return to the opposition benches in 2020? What happened to Trotman who was a huge star in Guyanese politics and together with Ramjattan was set to change Guyana in breathtaking ways?

The statement, “the more you live, the more you learn” is one that I encountered when I was growing up in Wortmanville in south Georgetown. My parents would say it so often that by the time you left primary school, you are repeating it yourself. No other saying is more potent in its truthfulness than it.

What happened along the way to the people I admired from within the deep sea beds of my mind? Where and why did they go astray? I

truly thought that with the demise of Walter Rodney, it would take a long time for anyone to come up, break the vicious ethnic cycle and that of mutual suspicion, and take Guyana far away from the mundane thoughts of “we versus dem.”

After Rodney, it took ages, but it came with Trotman and Ramjattan. I have always been active politically – with my pen and my body and in my activism I saw that Guyanese wanted t o g i v e Tr o t m a n a n d Ramjattan a chance to weaken the pernicious pattern of PPP versus PNC, Indians versus Africans.

These days I open the newspapers and I see Trotman and Ramjattan sitting in parliament as opposition members and my mind gets trapped in spinning windmills. Where did the magic go? Why did it

melt away? I guess it comes d o w n to th e in h er en t weaknesses of Homo sapiens.

When I see what Trotman and Ramjattan have become, I keep the flame of fear lighting in my heart. It is the fear that those phenomenally brave boys and girls, who relentlessly expended their energy to stay inside of the GECOM Command Centre and demand that their votes be counted, will not be disappointed with our new leaders as I am with Trotman and Ramjattan.

I looked through my bedroom window and saw them enduring the sun and the rain to be there to see the CARICOM–observed recount count for something in the life of this country.

And it did. I fear for these lovely, inviting, courageous young people and what will become of them if their bravery means nothing because our new leaders will walk the pathway of Trotman and Ramjattan.

Can many of the younger politicians who fought so

bravely to stop five months of rigging and who now are in the seat of power become Trotman and Ramjattan? Are we humans the masters of our own destiny? Will those young people when they turn

Frederick Kissoon 28, 30, 32 years and when they hear the mention of High Street or Arthur Chung Conference Centre, be forced to say like me; “ I was there, where did it all go, why is Guyana still like this? ” I would never have thought Guyana would still be like this after my embrace

of Trotman and Ramjattan.

There are times in this life that Lady Luck protects you and holds that invisible canopy over your head.

What would my wife and daughter say in the year 2020 if I had been murdered in 2015 in the big battle to put Trotman and Ramjattan in power? And there were times when murder was close.

I remember as the campaign of 2015 drew to a close, some madman from the AFC's East Coast section organized a public meeting in Mahaicony where not even the birds go.

The place was dark and desolate and as we packed up to leave, a guy drove a tractor on me and I was saved by the split of a second. I survived to see how life goes by without meaning because Trotman and Ramjattan typify all that is wrong with life.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 12

PAHO, IOM sign agreement to improve health of 70 million migrants in the Americas

M

ore than 70 m i l l i o n migrants living across international borders in the Region of the Americas are set to benefit from a joint agreement signed yesterday by Carissa F. Etienne, Director of the

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and António Vitorino, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

This was revealed in a statement issued by PAHO. Under the agreement, PAHO

and IOM will focus on scaling up coordinated interventions to support countries of the Americas in addressing health and migration, while leaving no one behind. It will also ensure greater advocacy for the inclusion of the specific

needs of migrants in health and development policy throughout the Region, both in the context of the COVID19 pandemic and beyond.

“Migrants are one of the most vulnerable populations in our Region, facing huge barriers when it comes to accessing the health care they need,” said PAHO Director, Carissa F Etienne.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder that no one is safe until everyone is safe, which is why this agreement between PAHO and IOM has never been so timely and so important,” she added.

Migration in the Americas The number of international migrants in the Americas reached 70 million as of 2019. Since 2015, this migratory flow includes more than five million Venezuelans who now live in other countries of the world, particularly Colombia, Chile and Peru. And since 2018, a new trend has emerged consisting of large groups migrating from Central America towards Mexico and the United States.

Drivers of migration in the Americas include social and economic inequalities, political instability, conflict and environmental disasters.

While many countries in the Region are sources of emigration to high-income countries in the Americas

PAHO Director, Carissa F. Etienne and Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean are also experiencing an increase in migrants from Africa and Asia. This places an additional strain on many countries' under-resourced health systems.

“This initiative has been created precisely to address these challenges and will help stakeholders to coordinate and harmonize actions to enhance the health of migrants,” said IOM Director General, António Vitorino.

Health and Migration The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the delivery of health services throughout the Americas, which has experienced over 17 million cases and more than 574,000 deaths due to the virus.

While migrants face the

same health threats as anyone else, these are compounded by precarious living conditions and a lack of access to basic services such as water, sanitation and nutrition.

Migrants are also more likely to face poor and crowded working conditions within the informal economy, as well as legal, language and cultural barriers that make adhering to public health measures during the pandemic particularly difficult.

Separation from support networks, financial hardship and limited access to supplies and medication are also threatening migrants' mental health and worsening preexisting conditions.

Beyond COVID-19, many migrants in the Americas experience a range of communicable as well as non-communicable diseases that require urgent recognition and treatment.

Diseases including malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, diabetes and hypertension among migrant populations must be addressed.

The new agreement aims to improve access to health for this vulnerable population, and support countries in border health, including in emergency preparedness and response. It also aims to enhance action across sectors, including education, social welfare and protection, to better plan health interventions with a short-, medium-, and longterm vision.

D'Urban Park Lion's Club donates canes in observance of World Sight Day

T

here are currently 14,000 persons in Guyana who are visually impaired and almost 3,000 who are blind. In fact, according to Dr. Arlene Bobb-Semple, an ophthalmologist attached to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, there are 18,630 persons here who are inflicted with Diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes complication that affects the eyes. It is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eyes, an area called the retina.

Dr. Bobb-Semple said that this condition threatens the sight of some 4,658 persons.

D r. A r l e n e B o b b -

Semple, the Chairperson of the Lion's Club of D'Urban Park Georgetown on Thursday addressed this state of affairs during a local observance of World Sight Day. World Sight Day is observed annually on the second Thursday in the month of October.

As part of the observance held under the theme: 'Hope In Sight', the Lion's Club donated a quantity of canes to members of the blind and visually impaired community at an event held at the Girls Guide Pavilion, Brickdam, Georgetown.

Three of the visually impaired persons who received canes were from Linden, Region 10, while the others reside in Georgetown.

According to Dr. Bobb-

Semple, the beneficiaries were chosen based on recommendations made by various blind organisations in the country.

Among the recipients was Valerie Angela Simboo, 66, of West Ruimveldt, Housing Scheme. She told Kaieteur News that she is grateful for the Lion's Club donation.

In her speech during the presentation, Dr. BobbSemple mentioned that “approximately 2.2 billion persons worldwide are affected by blindness or low vision and 90 percent of these are either reversible or prevented.” She also gave details of how persons can develop conditions such as visual impairment and (continued on page 13)

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 10, 2020

PAGE 13

Church of England dumps Exxon's stocks over poor climate record T

he Church of England, one of ExxonMobil's investors, has dumped all its stocks in the company over its poor record on climate change. A spokesperson is quoted as saying the proceeds were moved to an initiative which aligns with the objectives of the Paris Climate pact. The Church manages US$3.6B in funds.

Bloomberg said that the Church of England indicated it frequently reviews the holdings of its multiple investing bodies in line with ethical principles.

This news agency yet again underscores the urgent need for Guyana to develop a strong regulatory framework to keep ExxonMobil in check, as it operates three oil blocks here. Guyana's recent and ongoing issue with ExxonMobil's flaring indicate that the company is willing to let its operations be as lax as the regulator would let it, given that Exxon has opted to exploit a loophole in its permit so it could continue to flare.

What has happened recently with the Church of

England is not the first occurrence of its kind when it comes to Exxon and its climate record.

Last year, one of Exxon's top European shareholders, Legal and General Investment Management Limited (LGIM) came out shaming the oil company for how it addresses climate change. Then, it voted to dump shares its Future World Funds has in Exxon. It had noted that the initiative is there for clients who maintain a commitment to environmental, social and governance themes, and Exxon had failed on that account.

The company had released a report, which found that Exxon is a 'laggard' as it has failed to meet climate reporting obligations. The asset manager stated that ExxonMobil has not met some of its key minimum requirements, including on emissions reporting and targets. This is very similar to the reasoning given by the Church of England for its divestment.

ExxonMobil's poor

response to the risks of climate change was one of the top issues raised at its Annual Meeting of Shareholders in May. Some among the Church of England had tried to get shareholders to pass a motion requiring Exxon to give details on its lobbying disclosures, among other action to respond to what appears to be a lack of ambition on climate change.

In this regard, the bold Executive Director of Corporate Governance for the New York State Common Retirement Fund, Liz Gordon had said “Exxon is a laggar d in ad d res s in g climate risks. Our company has no enterprise-wide targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction from its own operations, does not even disclose the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of its products, much less articulate any ambition to reduce those emissions and (it) invests to grow its hydrocarbons production at a rate that is clearly inconsistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.”

D'Urban Park Lion's Club donates canes...

Representatives of the Lion's Club of D'Urban Park presented a quantity of canes to the blind and visually impaired community From page 12 blindness; macular degeneration, cataracts and some early cases of glaucoma.

To help combat these conditions, Dr. BobbSemple said persons “should have regular eye checkups.

So from the time you reach 35 years (of age), you should have a yearly checkup, a good sleeping routine, eat healthy food, especially food containing Vitamin A, and for persons in front of computers they should take a 20 minutes break and this is

to prevent eye strain.”

This humanitarian gesture was made to raise public awareness on issues surrounding blindness and vision impairment. This, she said, is in keeping with the aims of “World Sight Day”.

The doctor said that World Sight Day was created to influence in particular various health ministries in donating funds towards blindness prevention programmes.

These programmes, she continued, must be focused on promoting education about

blindness and to generate its support for the Vision 2020 programme.

Meanwhile, Ms. Carole J a m e s - B oston, Service Chairperson of the Lion's Club of D'Urban Park also gave brief remarks. She said that the Lion's Club of D'Urban Park of Lion's Club International has been providing services to communities for in excess of 25 years. The organisation, she said, was pleased to make this presentation on “World Sight Day” despite the current pandemic the world is battling.

An article done by Bloomberg recently could give insight as to why. It stated that ExxonMobil is playing out an investment strategy that it knows will result in a massive increase

in emission by 2025.

ExxonMobil called the article inaccurate but did not release the numbers it said considered its “mitigation and abatement measures that would have been evaluated

in the planning process.”

The publication said that this is “setting one of the largest corporate emitters against international efforts to slow the pace of warming.”

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 14

Claudette Singh accused of facilitating abuse of GECOM staffers' rights

By Renay Sambach The Chairperson of the

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Rt'd) Claudette

Singh, is accused of facilitating the abuse of the rights of GECOM staffers'

GECOM Chairperson, Justice (R'td) Claudette Singh Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon

APNU+AFC Commissioner, Desmond Trotman

by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Joseph Harmon, during a press conference yesterday said that the arrest and charges that are being laid against several GECOM officials and staffers by the GPF, in relation to electoral fraud committed during the March 2, 2020, General and Regional Elections, amount to harassment by the force.

The opposition leader also stated that the fact that the GECOM chair is silent on the arrests that are being made, makes her complicit in the matters.

Meanwhile, yesterday

the Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Roxanne Myers, made her first court appearance for two counts of misconduct in public office charge.

D e s m o n d Tr o t m a n , APNU+AFC's nominated GECOM commissioner, while talking to reporters outside of the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts said that, “The Chair [Singh]… she seem to have wash her hands of the affairs and have just facilitated the handing over of information and the 'persecution' of members of staff without showing any willingness to take some line of action.”

Trotman also said that the GECOM chair has given

instructions for documents to be handed over to the police without ascertaining the use for the documents.

He added that after inquiries were made, she admitted, at the level of the commission, that she handed over job descriptions to the police.

However, the GECOM chair did not take the comments made by the commissioner lightly.

In response, she issued a statement in which she refuted Trotman claims and made it clear that the commissioners were informed during a statutory meeting about the request for the documents that was made by the GPF. Singh noted that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the GPF had requested the (continued on page 25)

End to use of selective media houses…

Online entities to benefit from Govt. ads too

W

ith the aim of ensuring wide coverage, Minister of Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy, revealed that online entities have now been added to the list of existing agencies to receive government advertisements.

In a statement to the press yesterday, Minister McCoy stated that his attention was brought to the issue of selective media houses being chosen to carry the government's public service announcements and ads.

“This will no longer obtain,” the minister indicated, while adding, “With the exception of specific and decision factors such as geographic reach, nature of message or

Minister of Public Affairs, Kwame McCoy any such consideration, as a matter of government policy, all ministers and agencies are now required

to ensure that all newspapers, television, radio stations and even online entities receive equal consideration in the placement of ads.”

These, the statement noted, must encompass the State and private entities.

The government's Department of Public Information (DPI) has an Advertising Department which is responsible for the placement of Public Service Announcements and other forms of advertisements. DPI will therefore serve as the conduit for this process and will also provide guidance and assistance in the determination of the placement of ads, based on the factors outline above.

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 15

Kaieteur News

PAGE 16

Customer sets Caricom Auto Sales' storage facility alight Parts of the facility engulfed in flames

T

he storage facility of the Lusignan, East Coast of Demerara Caricom Auto Sales was destroyed by a fire yesterday around 14:00 hours.

The fire has since been deemed an act of arson.

According to information released by the Fire Service, the fire was reportedly started by a paper soaked in gasoline that was thrown into the building.

Owner of the property,

Imran Inshan, disclosed to the media that he was not far away when the fire occurred and he managed to see smoke emerging from the building. He said his employees were seen running out of the building.

Fire fighters, this publication was told, arrived on the scene promptly and managed to save a window factory and a house that are in close proximity to the auto shop.

It was reported that a man

came into the store inquiring about a specific part for his car but was told by employees that they did not have the product available.

Following that the man allegedly lit a piece of paper with gasoline and threw it into the office area. The fire spread rapidly due to the gasoline and the building soon became engulfed in flames.

The man then made good his escape on a bicycle. The employees stated that they

were unable to see the man's face since he was wearing a mask.

The businessman has estimated his losses to be in excess of over $80 million in vehicle parts, while the building itself is valued at $70 million.

Police have since launched an investigation into the matter and this publication was informed that CCTV footage from around the area will be reviewed.

Saturday October 10, 2020

PPP/C stacking public service with loyalists - Harmon Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon, is of the belief that the People's Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is stacking the public service with its loyalists. The Opposition Leader made these assertions, yesterday during his weekly press conference after it was announced that the PPP/C had appointed eight new Permanent Secretaries.

Those appointments include Shannielle HooseinOutar to the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security; Andre Ally to the Ministry of Housing and Water; Bishram Kuppen to the Ministry of Labour; Sharon Roopchand-Edwards to the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; Malcolm Watkins to the Ministry of Health; Sharon Hicks to the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs; Mae Thomas to the Ministry of Home Affairs; and Vladim Persaud to the Ministry of Public Works.

While many of these appointees possess

Diplomas, Master Degrees and the other relevant qualifications for the position, Harmon posited that the academic competence is not the only item that would secure them the position.

Harmon articulated, “The Permanent Secretary is the administrative head and accounting officer who is responsible for the assets of the Ministry; that person stands between Government regulations and ministerial excesses. He or she must be aware of all Government regulations and programmes and is involved in the preparation and expenditure of budgets; they report to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, and it takes years of experience in the public service to become that competent.”

What is concerning is that the Opposition Leader went on to claim that Permanent Secretaries who were replaced were not informed prior, and that “they only learned about it in the newspapers.”

G$17M COVID-19 testing machine...

From page 11 implemented several initiatives which included sending test results out of Guyana to Trinidad for faster testing.

Additionally, 24 new ventilators were collected on Thursday which will be used in COVID-19 Intensive Care

Units at care facilities.

Guyana is awaiting the arrival of two more ventilators from the Government of Mexico, which was announced by the country's ambassador to Guyana, Hurtado Contretas, during a courtesy call paid to the Health Minister.

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 17

Court Superintendent's Office commissioned in Berbice - as Govt. sets sight on modernized criminal justice system

By Malisa Playter-Harry

A

s the world continues to evolve, Guyana is aiming to create a more modernized criminal justice system. In this regard, a brand-new edifice was commissioned at the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam, Berbice by the Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, and Acting Commissioner of Police, Nigel Hoppie. The building is situated in the compound of the police station and will serve as the regional Court

he said, have a right to be protected by the law and to be afforded a justice system that ensures that the rights and freedom are respected and protected. He posited too that “often when we speak about criminal justice, we only consider one factor or one component and that is the interest of the accused.

Now the interest of the accused is very important, and it forms the fundamental pillar which the criminal justice system rests, but another important pillar is the rights of the victim or the rights of the state or the

Officials seated at the head table

A section of the gathering at yesterday's commissioning ceremony Bachelor's of Law degree but have not pursued the legal certificate of education at the various law schools in the region would be eligible to be further trained and recruited. They will be provided with the opportunity to be trained in a prosecutorial programme and they will then be amalgamated into the police

Superintendent's Office.

The AG in his remarks s t a t e d t h a t t h e I n t e rAmerican Development Bank funded project represents part of government's agenda to build a criminal justice system that is modern, efficient and one that can deliver the quality and type of criminal justice to Guyanese. The project, he said, will handle “important concepts” and one of a similar nature was done in Georgetown.

“Here we have delivered a new building that will house the Court Superintendent office of Region Six and I am told that the request is for us to provide furnishings as we did in Georgetown and we intend to do so because the criminal justice system is important to the overall development and equation of the country,” he said.

Nandlall underscored the importance of person's having access to justice and noted that it is important as “one's access to healthcare and to education.” Persons,

public interest in the administration of criminal justice.”

The AG mentioned too, that whenever a crime is committed and there is a victim, the wrong is also committed against the state and while the defence or the defendant has a right to retain an attorney that is only one component of the administration of justice.

The other components are the victim's interest and the public good and it is the harmonious balance of these interests that ensure that there is true delivering of criminal justice, he said.

The Minister stressed that the state's responsibility therefore “is to ensure that its prosecutorial arm is equipped with both the physical infrastructure and hardware, as well as the personnel required.”

Nandlall assured that the current project will be one that ensures the objective is achieved. Shedding light on some of the initiatives his government will be looking to execute successfully, he said that persons who have a

force “to join the prosecutorial ranks at the bar table of magistrates courts right across the lengths and breadth of this country.”

Over 60 persons have expressed interest and they have also indicated their willingness to join the programme.

Nandlall said that the (continued on page 25)

PAGE 18

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

In wake of COVID-19...

Retrofitted containers to be technologically equipped to conduct criminal trials for prisoners - AG Attorney General, Anil Nandlall

A

collaborative agreement between the Judiciary and the executive arms of the government will see the implementation of several measures to deal with criminal trials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, the Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn; the Guyana Police Force; the Guyana Prison Service and the Judiciary have worked out an arrangement where they will partner to deliver a new initiative. The initiative, he said, will allow for criminal trials to be less affected by the challenges of the pandemic and one that will serve to expedite those trials.

He disclosed that the initiative “that is set to manifest itself” is the “installation of several containers, retrofitted with the technological apparatus at various prison centres that in each container it will have all the capacity to have WiFi, a 55 inch television, a seat for the prisoner, handcuff facilities, etc.” so that a criminal trial could be conducted through that medium.

The container, he said, “will be so technologically equipped that you can patch in to a court and a Magistrate, a lawyer and a prosecutor will be able to conduct a criminal trial from that container location which will be close to a prison centre.”

He said eight containers will be sent to New Amsterdam and placed outside the New Amsterdam Prison. The prisoners, he explained, will then be escorted into that container and “they will be able to patch into whichever magistrate's court they have a case ongoing.”

He added that a similar

initiative will be executed at Lusignan on the East Coast of Demerara, Camp Street in Georgetown and at the Mazaruni Prison.

The AG revealed that the containers are currently being retrofitted and the initiative is set to be launched within three weeks.

According to him,“that will bring immeasurable speed to the hearing and the determination of criminal trial as well as it will allow trials to take place and allow applications to be made. We had great difficulty in having them made in this COVID environment and you saw the result of that, unrest at various prison centres across the country.” He further stated that moves are being made to identify police stations with similar facilities for first hearings of persons charged for criminal offences. The Central Police Station is expected to be one of those police stations that will execute such.

“So defendants can come here or at identified physical locations and they will be in that room that will be patched into a magistrate's court somewhere in Berbice and the charge will be read to that person from the police station and that person will be required to plea or don't plea and to make any relevant application right from the police station,” said Nandlall. He added, “I say this to you so that you understand that the administration is very responsive and is very aware of the new challenges that face us as we continue to battle with COVID.” He also mentioned that his Ministry will ensure that there is a Director of Public Prosecution office in Berbice and a police legal advisor in every division so that the divisional commander can have access to legal advice at all times.

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

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Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

PAGE 23

G$17M COVID-19 testing COVID-19 death toll now at 102 machineto significantly W reduce waiting time for results Health officials say...

ith four new fatalities recorded, Guyana's COVID-19 death toll yesterday climbed to 102.

Early in the day the Ministry of Health announced that there were two deaths and these were reflected in the Ministry's daily dashboard update.

However, the other two were announced later in the day.

These are not reflected on the dashboard.

The first two deaths that were announced are that of a 57-year-old male from Region Seven (Cuyuni-

C

OVID-19 test results will now be available within two to three hours.

This development comes on the heels of a donation of a new testing machine and testing kits from the Government of China.

Senior officials within the Ministry of Health told Kaieteur News yesterday that the machine and testing kits are valued at G$17.2 million.

It was also stated that the machine will be able to process at least 96 test samples within three hours, reducing the lengthy waiting time for results.

The machine and testing kits were handed over by the Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun, at a handing over ceremony. The ambassador said that following discussions with the Health Minister, he contacted the Chinese community to provide assistance so that Guyana would be able to fast track testing.

Also present at the ceremony was Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, who thanked the Chinese Government for all of its contributions. He said that China would've enabled Guyana to come a far way in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, by increasing testing and the finding of

Chinese Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun

Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony

positive cases.

At the ceremony, it was also announced that the Chinese government has sent medical specialists to assist with the installation of the machine and to give advice on how to use it. Another set of specialists will be at health facilities to assist with Guyana's fight against the novel Coronavirus, it was revealed.

The machine donated is called an extractor and it is specifically used to extract genetic material. It was installed at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) on We d n e s d a y. M i n i s t e r Anthony stated that with the new extracting machine and

its ability to process 96 test samples within three hours, a large number of tests will be covered in an eight-hour shift.

D r. A n t h o n y h a d previously told Kaieteur News that upon assuming the Health Minister post, a decision was taken to increase the number of shifts at the NPHRL to three as the previous administration only had one shift, making it hard for efficient testing to be conducted.

The Minister had explained that his administration was working assiduously to deliver faster test results to the Guyanese people and thus (continued on page 16)

Mazaruni) and a 43-year-old male from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

They both died while receiving care at medical facilities on October 8, according to the Ministry.

The other two deaths are that of a 28-year-old man from Region Two PomeroonSupenaam and a 57-year-old man from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica). They also died while receiving treatment at medical facilities yesterday, the Ministry informed.

Also, 29 new cases were recorded yesterday taking

the total number of confirmed cases to 3,358.

This information was presented on the dashboard, which also states that there are 15 persons in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), 115 in institutional isolation, 948 in approved home isolation and 59 in institutional quarantine.

There have been a total of 2,180 recoveries so far.

Further, it was noted that 15,568 persons have undergone COVID-19 tests to date, and of this number 12,210 tested negative.

PAGE 24

FOR RENT

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

Store available for rent @ Bartica Contact #603-1402 / 650-0402

2020-HC-DEM-CIV -FD-94 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND M AT R I M O N I A L JURISDICTION . FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO. FD-94 BETWEEN: (CUMMINGS) SHONDEL ENEKA nee WINTZ Petitioner -V(CUMMINGS) MARK ANTHONY Respondent To the Respondent MARK ANTHONY C U M M I N G S Last Known Address Lot 225 McRae Street, West Bank Berbice, Guyana.

TAKE NOTICE that on the 23rd day of January, 2020 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you by SIIONDEL ENEKA CUMMINGS nee WINTZ, the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on’ the 19th day of June, 2020 the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in

two (2) consecutive Saturday Issue of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the Worldwide Web (Online).

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must tile an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28 (twenty-eight) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Monday the 2nd day of November, 2020 at 9:15 am before the

Honourable Madam Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall in Court Room Six (6) of the High Court at Georgetown. ,IN DEFAULT of your tiling an Acknowledgement of Service/Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed \ in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law. Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 7th day of September, 2020

LEGAL NOTICE November, 2020 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Simone MorrisRamlall in Court Room (6) of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/ Notice of Intention to Defend, Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between ‘8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days as the Registry is closed.

Dated the 16th day of September, 2020

2020-HC-DEM-CIV - FD-S41 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMILY, DIVORCE AND M AT R I M O N I A L JURISDICTION FAMILY DIVISION Petition No. FD-S41 Between:(DILLON) JOAN SEYMOUN nee KAM Petitioner -v(DILLON)LESTERKENNETH Respondent TO: LESTER KENNETH LESTER KENNETH (Address Unknown) TAKE NOTICE that on the 13th day of August, 2020 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you

by JOAN SEYMOUN DILLON nee KAM, the Petitioner in the Family DIvision of High Court in Georgetown, Demerara.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 18th day of September, 2020, the Petitioner was directed to effect service of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues in a Newspaper of the general circulation.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorneyat-Law at the

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Kaieteur News

33 Acres Prime Land Dalgin Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, Public Road Demerara River Contact: Ray's Realty 6279685

2020-HC-DEM-CIV -FD-527 IN THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE FAMI~ Y, DIVORCE AND M AT R I M O N I A L J U R I S D I C T I O N FAMILY DIVISION PETITION NO.: FD- 527 GODETTE (RACHAEL) nee ATKINSON Petitioner -andGODETTE (JOSEPH KENNARD SEMUEL) Respondent TO: JOSEPH KENNARD SEMUEL GODETTE (Last Known Address) Samatta Point, East Bank Demerara, Guyana TAKE NOTICE that on the 12th day of August, 2020 a Petition for Divorce was filed against you

by RACHAEL GODETTE nee ATKINSON, the Petitioner in the Family Division of the High Court in Georgetown, Demerara .

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that as part of an Order made on the 11th day of September, 2020, the Petitioner was directed to effect service

LEGAL NOTICE of her Petition on you by publication of this Notice in two (2) consecutive Saturday issues of the Kaieteur News Newspapers, a daily Newspaper printed, published and circulated in and around Guyana and on the World Wide Web. AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire you may appear or attend in person or by your duly authorized agent or Attorney-at-Law at the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 35 (thirtyfive) days from the date of the final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed for Directions Hearing on Tuesday the 17th day of

LEGAL NOTICE

Saturday October 10, 2020

PAGE 25

Kaieteur News

Mental health disorders are a leading cause of disability and a major contributor to NCDs - CARPHA In the Caribbean and worldwide, mental health disorders are now recognised as the fifth major non-communicable disease (NCD) and a major threat to health and economic development in the 21st century.

In fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in four persons globally will be affected by a mental disorder or neurological disorder in their lifetime and 450 million are affected by these disorders, such as, depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dementia and substance (e.g. alcohol, nicotine) dependency.

In fact, according to information released yesterday by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), mental health disorders are a leading cause of disability and a major contributor to the burden of non-communicable dis-

eases (NCDs) in the Region.

In Jamaica for example, the burden of mental illness is predicted to cause US$2.76 billion in lost economic output from 2015-2030, according to CARPHA. World Mental Health Day is observed annually on October 10. This year's observance comes at a time when lives have changed considerably as a result of the COVID19 pandemic.

Moreover, a campaign has been launched that focuses on investment in mental health.

The World Federation for Mental Health states “Good mental health is critical to the functioning of society at the best of times. It must be front and centre of every country's response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mental health and wellbeing of whole societies have been severely impacted

by this crisis and are a priority to be addressed urgently.”

CAPRHA has noted that the current COVID-19 pandemic is also affecting different people in different ways, and is having a major impact on persons' mental health and well-being including those persons who have existing mental illnesses. Also, it was underscored that persons with mental disorders often face stigma and discrimination, limitation of human rights, abuse, neglect and inadequate access to community-based treatment, care and support services. Since addressing stigma and discrimination are important strategies in programmes for mental health disorders, CARPHA noted that investing in interventions designed to improve health can help reduce the burden of these illnesses.

There are cost-effective interventions that Caribbean

countries can implement to prevent and control mental illnesses, CARPHA added, pointing out that “scaled up treatment for mental health disorders are likely to increase healthy life years, thus avoiding significant economic losses and social costs.”

For instance, it noted that over a 15-year period, scaling up treatment for mental health conditions in Jamaica would result in J$4.2 return on investment for every J$1 invested.

“We must support interventions and investments aimed at prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. So that we move closer to achieving our goals, we need to continue to pledge support to the 2007 Declaration of Port of Spain: Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases, and the Sustainable Development

Goal (SDG) 3.4 which aims to reduce, by 2030, premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by one third, through prevention and treatment and the promotion of mental health and well-being,” said CARPHA's Executive Director, Dr. Joy St. John.

She further stated that a 'whole of society approach' is essential in order to prevent and control mental disorders and other NCDs. “No one person, organisation or government can do this. All members of society need to play their role to achieve success,” CARPHA has noted.

Moreover, it continues to work closely with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Institutions of the Community, Member States and its public health partners to create the needed alliances between governments, academia, civil society and others, to help to shape

regional and country-level policy and programmes that address the issues of mental health disorders and to promote mental wellbeing.

In September of this year, CARPHA and countries across the Region celebrated Caribbean Wellness Day. The annual event was geared at increasing awareness and promoting activities to address non-communicable diseases including mental health.

CARPHA urges everyone to “engage in healthy lifestyles like being physically active, engaging in healthy eating; if you smoke, please quit, reduce consumption of alcohol to the recommended safe quantities, get annual health checks, improve your personal relationships with family and friends and take care of your mental health.

During the pandemic be calm, be safe, and seek help if unable to cope.”

Court Superintendent's Office commissioned in Berbice From page 17 idea is to have an attorney at every magistrate's court to prosecute every offence but noted that in the interim the current initiative “will go a far away in improving the level of prosecutorial service at the magistrate's court level. At the level of the high court, the state provides a state prosecutor who is a full-fledged lawyer but according to Nandlall, “we can't replicate

that in the magistrate's court.

So what we are doing, we are adding LLB graduates to aid and assist police prosecutors.”

He revealed too that his ministry is actively in the process of recruiting a consultant to design the syllabus for the prosecutorial programme and an approach has already been made with the University of Guyana where it will be taught and upon comple-

LEGAL NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

Registry of Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara where you will be issued with a certified copy of the Petition together with related documents.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that if you desire to Defend this Divorce, then upon receipt of the certified copy of the Petition, you must file an Acknowledgement of Service, Notice of Intention to Defend (Forms are available at the Registry), Answer and/or Cross Petition in the Registry of the Family Division of the High Court at Georgetown, Demerara within 28 (twenty-eight) days from the date of the second and final publication of this Notice.

TAKE NOTICE that the divorce is fixed.for Directions Hearing on Monday the 16th day of November, 2020 at 9:00 am before the Honourable Madam Justice Simone Morris Ramlall in Court Room six (6) of the High Court at Georgetown.

IN DEFAULT of your filing an Acknowledgement of Service/ Notice of Intention to Defend Answer and/or Cross Petition the Court may proceed in your absence and may make any Order it considers appropriate, including granting the Divorce.

The Registry of the Family Division of the High Court is located at the Law Courts [Georgetown, Demerara]. The office is open to the public between 8:00am and 3:30pm Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 2:30pm on Fridays except on public holidays and on such other days ‘as the Registry is closed. Dated the 25th day of September, 2020 .

tion a certificate issued.

He stated that there are other initiatives that will be instituted to help “augment and advance the criminal justice system in Berbice in particular.”

With new challenges encountered and with new transformations expected to take place, the AG is adamant that the Guyana Police Force and the criminal justice system must also transform at the same pace so that the developmental agenda of the country can be met. He said the other components of the programme which his government will bring to Berbice are initiatives “that we will work along with the Human Services Ministry for example and the Ministry of Health to offer assistance both in resources and in training in the area of probation, mental health and rehabilitation for drug offenders. We will launch training programmes so that magistrates and judges are reminded of the alternatives that the law offer to custodial sentences.”

“There is a repertoire of remedies in the law which offers an alternative penalty to custodial sentences and one of the objectives is to reduce the prison population that will necessarily involve the use of non-custodial remedial measures and penalties,” Nandlall added.

He mentioned that there are some statutory interventions that were accentuate into the laws some 10 years ago that are hardly being used. These include plea bargaining and paper committals.

“You have to start using them so that we don't overload the criminal justice system. You can enter into a plea bargain and finish a case that will take five years in five days, and paper committal, why waste time in the magistrate's court when you know that a committal is inevitable. Just go to the magistrate and consent to the committal and throw the matter over to the high court.

These are simple measures put into law 10 years ago and they have not been used so

this project will bring back focus into those things,” Nandlall said.

Nandlall said too that government is currently working on sentencing guidelines and referenced the many times media coverage has published articles that were critical on the “erratic sentencing patterns” but added “you do so with justification”.

Sentencing guidelines, he said, will bring greater uniformity and consistency and are intended to give guidance to the exercise of such discretion. He also mentioned that in the case of granting bail, it has been the subject of great controversy in the public domain.

“The way the discretion and the power of granting and refusing bail has been exercised, the Bail Act is intended to set down the principles that ought to govern the grant or refusal of bail, that Act, we have a modern one that has been drafted and is now out with the bar associations, with the judiciary, receiving their comments and benefitting their consulta-

Claudette Singh accused of facilitating...

From page 14 contracts of some members of staff and she reported the request at a Statutory Meeting of the Commission.

According to the statement, the GECOM chair then sought clarity from the CID headquarters as to the purpose of the request for such information since those documents are private to GECOM. In response to the GECOM chair's request, the police stated that what was

required is the job description of all the senior officials who are being investigated.

As a result, only the job descriptions of the GECOM officials who are being investigated were released to the police, since that information is already public.

She added, “I instructed the Human Resources Manager to provide Job Descriptions ONLY. As Chairperson of GECOM and a former Police Legal Advisor, I do not have

the authority to interfere into the work of the Guyana Police Force nor any other Statutory Body and will always ensure that the best interests of the members of staff of GECOM are protected.”

In closing the GECOM chair stated that it is unfortunate that Trotman sought to publicly admonish the work of the Commission, even though he was present at the discussions that were held pertaining to the release of documents.

tions. Hopefully that process will be completed and we will have a new modern Bail Act that will help you, the prosecutors, and will help the tribunals as well in determining how bail should or should not be granted.”

He said too that all that is necessary will be done to modernize the criminal justice system in Guyana.

Meanwhile, Hoppie, the Acting Commissioner of Police, in brief remarks, noted that the project, which is divided into two components, will see the first component seeking to reduce the use of pre-trial detention, especially individuals with minor offences.

“The idea was to provide better legal assistance for individuals accused of non-violent offences, improve the prosecutor's ability to handle cases, according to the seriousness and the gravity of the offence; strengthen the judiciary and design and implement a restorative justice programme and the second component increases the use of alternative sentencing.

This includes strengthening the country's legal drafting functions, organising probation services and implementing a pilot project at the magistrate's court level to apply alternative to imprisonment on violent offenders,” he said. He added that such a programme could not have come at a better time “since it comes when our country is set to experience significant changes in the economic structure coupled with globalization and mass immigration.”

Also speaking at the event was Regional Chairman, David Armogan.

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...Rugby saves school girls from child marriage in rural From page 28 education in Zimbabwe, said school rugby coach Patricia Makunike-Chakanya.

Sahumani starting teaching girls rugby in 2015 in an initiative spearheaded by teachers who had also trained as coaches under the banner of the Zimbabwe Rugby Union.

Makunike-Chakanya, herself a victim of gender-based violence, got interested in the

game in the 1980s, when it was only played by men. She later trained as a coach, hoping to make the sport popular with girls too. Besides honing their drop kicks, she spends time talking to the girls, listening to their worries and giving them advice.

“Staying with some of the girls at the school gives me an opportunity to counsel them and to protect them from predatory men in the village,” Makunike-

Chakanya said. Most parents have rallied behind the girls’ rugby team, called the “The Valley Giants”, and they no longer have to wear old soccer jerseys thanks to a sponsorship deal with a local seed company.

“We realised that by not supporting them they would give up on sport and get into the community where they become vulnerable to all sorts of abuse,” said Ivan Craig, a director

responsible for sales and marketing at Agriseeds.

Muranganwa now dreams of making a career in rugby so she can help support her family, while also seeing the world.

“Marriage is not my priority now,” she said. “I wish to play for independent clubs in Botswana and South Africa as well as in Europe. I know with rugby I’m going to change my family’s life.”

...Vettel pays tribute to Michael Schumacher by showing off From page 28 on the sides with a chinese dragon drawn at the top.

Vettel keeps his German flag stripe going through the middle of the helmet, but managed to fuse both designs together.

Mick, who was set to drive for Alfa Romeo in the first practice on Friday

(yesterday) before it was rained off, bump fists with Vettel before the pair go their separate ways. Ahead of the race in Nurburgring, Vettel, who will drive for Aston Martin next season, decided to have the helmet created to commemorate Schumacher’s last win on German soil in 2006.

‘For this weekend’s German Grand Prix I will wear a new helmet,’ he said in a video released by Ferrari. ‘It doesn’t look very different but actually it is because underneath we will have Michael’s original design from 2006. ‘You have Michael’s stars, the Chinese dragons and the signs on the

Saturday October 10, 2020 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) There's a fiery tone to the day that can't be ignored. You may find that adjustments need to be made in your own plan of attack in order to get on the same page with other people.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) You may need a translator to get through to people today, Libra. It could be hard to make decisions, but not impossible. Today's tip is to err on the side of adventure.

TAURUS (Apr. 20–May 20) There's an extra spark in your eye that people won't be able to ignore. Today's a good day to get your point across, because you'll find people more open and receptive to new things than usual.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Use your power resources today, Scorpio, as you have a great deal of dynamic energy at your disposal. You have the ability to transform and conquer anything now.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) Take yourself on a mental adventure today in which you explore new aspects of your world. Discuss philosophy and religion. Get to the core of a matter that seriously interests you.

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You could be asked to make some spontaneous decisions today that you might not feel entirely comfortable making, Sagittarius.

CANCER(June21–July22) Take yourself on a mental adventure today in which you explore new aspects of your world. Discuss philosophy and religion. Get to the core of a matter that seriously interests you.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) Be careful that you aren't acting in a way that you dislike in others. You could find that you're slowly taking on the traits of the people you despise.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Sept. 22) The day's general mood should fit quite well with your agenda, Virgo. There's no need to fixate on the negative.

Keep things light and upbeat and worry about the consequences later.

CAPRI(Dec.22–Jan.19) Emotionally, you may feel as if you're running up against a brick wall, Capricorn. It could be that your first reaction is to drown your sorrows in drink.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) Your emotions could be extra powerful today, Aquarius, although something may not feel as if it's sitting right. It could be a feeling of manipulation.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Take hold of this day as if it's your own and use it to grow your dreams, Pisces.

You'll find a great deal of power and dynamism in the air urging you to take the adventurous route. There's no need to hold back.

side and obviously Michael’s MS logo.

‘It’s just a small thought, obviously we all miss him.

That way, racing in Germany is always something special.

‘Thinking of him and his last race here - when he won in 2006, last time he won on German soil - so I would believe it’s a nice gesture and I’m looking forward to wearing the helmet this weekend.’

...Argentina, Uruguay edge

Luiz Suarez © Getty Images From page 29 start to their campaign at an eerily quiet Bombonera.

Stars immediately find their range - Luiz Suarez extended his Uruguay national record to 60 international goals in scoring the opener against Chile. It was also another slice of history for the record-breaker as he grabbed the maiden goal in South America’s road to Qatar 2022.

Lionel Messi is not one to be left behind and the Argentinian megastar did likewise in extending his national record tally to 71. The first-half penalty-spot winner against Ecuador leaves Messi having now scored in five World Cup qualifying campaigns.

Despite failing to take all three points thanks to Peru’s late equaliser, Paraguay will be hoping they have turned a corner. La Albirroja had lost four of their past five home World Cup qualifiers, including a hefty 4-1 defeat against Peru during the last qualifying cycle.

...Teenager Swiatek’s handling From page 31 2019 Australian Open with Simona Halep beating Williams in last year ’s Wimbledon showdown.

Australian Ashleigh Barty, however, hammered teenager Marketa Vondrousova in last year’s French Open final and if the average age of the women’s champions at Roland Garros is the lowest of all four Grand Slams - 23.7 to 23.8 for the U.S Open, 24 for the Australian Open, 25.3 for Wimbledon, the claycourt tournament is also known for a couple of teenagers’ meltdowns.

While Swiatek bulldozed through the draw, losing only 23 games en route to the final, she does not have fourth seed Kenin’s experience. The American, although only 21, already has a Grand Slam title to her name having won this year’s Australian Open.

“I’ve already done it in Australia. I’ve had tough matches these past two weeks and I’m so excited to be in the final,” said Kenin.

Swiatek, the first Pole in the final in 81 years, has yet to be really tested.

In 1988, the 17-year-old Natasha Zvereva, who had reached the final losing only one set and having beaten Martina Navratilova in the last 16, collapsed in a 6-0 6-0, 34-minute humiliation at the hands of Steffi Graf.

The West German was about to turn 19 but she had already two major titles under her belt. Eleven years later, a teenage Martina

Hingis blazed through the draw before wilting under pressure against the experienced Graf, losing her nerve in the face of an adverse crowd.

Apart from experience, Swiatek has it all as she bids to become the youngest player to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup since Monica Seles beat Graff in the 1992 final.

“I haven’t seen one player who is complete technically with all the shots. I haven’t seen a player as young as her as complete when it comes to constructing points and going forwards, taking the ball early,” triple French Open champion Mats Wilander told Eurosport.

“Even though she hits the ball with so much power, she also hits with margin.

She doesn’t have any weakness at all, not one.” Swiatek beat Kenin in the 2016 juniors tournament but both players have never faced each other at WTA-level.

The world number 54 hinted that nerves would be a key factor on court Philippe Chatrier today.

“Usually, I’m that kind of player who is playing better under pressure. If I’m not going to choke up, I think everything will be fine,” she said.

Whether her fate will be similar to Zvereva’s or Seles’s is anyone’s guess.(This story corrects year of Graf v Hingis final, making clear it is 1999)

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World #1 Djokovic digs deep to beat Rugby saves school girls from child marriage in rural Zimbabwe 22-year-old Tsitsipas in five-set epic HAUNA, Zimbabwe (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - When the girls at Sahumani Secondary School in eastern Zimbabwe started playing rugby, they had to make do with the soccer pitch and the oversized football shirts used by the boys.

Five years on, several have represented their country in the sport, and many more credit it with saving them from becoming child brides in a nation where early marriage remains common despite being outlawed in 2016.

“I used to hate rugby. At the time I believed the sport was only for the elite and for men, not girls like me,” said Catherine Muranganwa, 20, who has played for Zimbabwe’s Under-18 and Under-20 women’s national rugby teams.

Muranganwa, whose two sisters were married before they turned 18 - the legal marriage age in Zimbabwe said the game had awakened her to different possibilities.

“When I travel for rugby I meet amazing women and I have realised that getting married early is not the right choice,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in her village in the Honde Valley, about 90 km (55 miles) from the city of Mutare.

Rugby is now compulsory for all the girls at Muranganwa’s school.

“When the Form 1s enrol with us we introduce them to rugby. There is a positive improvement regarding early marriages,” said headteacher Mwaradzika Makazouya, adding that the school’s long lockdown closure had raised the risk of girls being married off.

- Books blockbuster final with Rafael Nadal

Rugby players Cathrine Muranganwa, Velme Nyarumwe and Trish Kandemiri doing press ups in a newly erected jungle gym at Sahumani Secondary.

Honde Valley, September 11 2020. Thomson Reuters Foundation/Farai Shawn Matiashe As of 2019, 32.6% of a representative sample of some 8,000 women aged 20 to 49 years had been married before 18, according to the Zimbabwe Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2019. While there has been progress in the fight against early marriage in the southern African nation since it was banned, poverty and religious practices hamper efforts to stamp it out.

Education is a key factor in determining the risk, and with schools mostly still shut due to the coronavirus pandemic, campaigners are warning there could be an increase in the practice.

Around the world, an estimated 500,000 more girls are at risk of being forced into child marriage in 2020 as a result of the economic impact of COVID-19, a report by Save the Children.

That would mark a 4% year-on-year increase, reversing progress to reduce early marriage over the last 25 years, the charity said. James Maiden, a chief of communication at the U.N.

Sahumani Secondary rugby team coach Patricia-Mukunike-Chakanya is throwing the ball at Cathrine Muranganwa lifted by Trish Kandemiri and Velme Nyarumwe during a line-out at Sahumani Secondary, Honde Valley, September 11 2020, Thomson Reuters Foundation/Farai Shawn Matiashe

Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said low levels of education and socio-economic status raised the risk of being married off early in Zimbabwe.

“Women aged 20 to 49 with pre-primary or no education were 13 times more likely to (have been) married by age 18 compared to those with higher education,” he said. Girls from poor households were nearly four times more likely to be married compared before the legal marriage age than those from wealthy households, he added.

‘TOO LATE FOR MARRIAGE’ Muranganwa’s father, who was a polygamist with four wives, died when she was 12 and life has not been easy for her mother, a peasant farmer, and the rest of her family. He was a member of a church known for polygamy and marrying off girls before they reach the legal age of marriage.Muranganwa, who walks 10 km (six miles) to get to Sahumani Secondary School each day, said most girls who attend her church are married before they finish their primary education.

“Young girls are usually married off to older polygamous men at an annual church gathering,” she said, adding that her mother has supported her in rejecting a string of marriage proposals despite pressure from other relatives.

Velme Nyarumwe, 20, one of Muranganwa’s fellow players on the Zimbabwe Under-20 Women’s rugby team, said her four sisters were all wed before their 18th birthdays. “To my family, at 20 I’m already too late for marriage. They pile on pressure daily,” she said.

Many of the rugbyplaying girls are the first in their families to reach Form 4,

Djokovic looked to be in cruise control but he lost his way and Tsitsipas made him pay for it @AFP via Getty images MailOnline - There were some in the cognoscenti that felt Stefanos Tsitsipas could break through the glass ceiling and reach the French Open final on Friday night and they were almost proven right under the lights in Paris.

In the end the 22-year-old Greek ran out of steam against Novak Djokovic having fought back from two sets down to take it the distance in a brutal four-hour encounter inside a fervent Philippe Chatrier.

The world No 1, whose only defeat in 2020 came after he was defaulted at the US Open when a stray ball struck a line judge, ran out 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1 winner to join Rafael Nadal, who had earlier beaten Diego Schwartzman, in Sunday’s (tomorrow) final.

Djokovic, 33, has one French Open title to his name, winning here in 2016 but for Nadal, he is chasing a 13th win at Roland Garros which would take his Grand Slam total level with Roger Federer’s 20.

Tsitsipas could barely shift his feet in the closing stages and it was a brutal reminder of the physical demands required to

Nadal on clay is one of sport’s toughest tasks as he’s never lost a semi-final at the French Opens overcome Djokovic and the Greek will be stronger for this experience.

Djokovic could afford to smile at the end as he stood on court with his bag slung over his shoulder for his post match interview. The question now is what does he have left for Nadal come Sunday?

‘Stefanos is a great player but after four hours he was tired,’ Djokovic said. ‘You have to give him a lot of credit for this match. ‘Of course I have lot of motivation to win on Sunday but this is the house of Rafa because he has

won so many times here.

‘I will need to play my best tennis because it is probably the highest challenge, to play Rafa on clay at Roland Garros.’ Nadal had no such struggles earlier on Friday when he dismantled Diego Schwartzman in straight sets.

It is Nadal’s 13th final at Roland Garros and he has won each of the previous 12.

But Djokovic has not been beaten by an opponent in this disrupted 2020 season.

As the two greats of the game collide, something has to give.

Vettel pays tribute to Michael Schumacher by showing off new helmet to his son Mick MailOnline - Sebastian Vettel has paid tribute to Formula One legend Michael Schumacher by unveiling a new helmet design modelled on the seven-time world champion.

Schumacher has been recovering from a horrific skiing accident since 2013 which saw him suffer from head injuries and placed into a medically induced coma.

His health is now shrouded in mystery but recent reports have claimed he has been moved to a £27m mansion in Majorca. The former Ferrari star was well known for his trademark helmets and Vettel has used a 3D print to re-create a classic design inspired by Schumacher ahead of the Eifel Grand Prix, showing it off to his son Mick.

A clip posted by Formula One’s Instagram page sees Mick observing as Vettel points out the various design details around the helmet that were based on his father’s.

Schumacher’s signature can also be found (Continued on page 27)

Sebastian Vettel showed off a touching tribute to Michael Schumacher to his son Mick

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Impressive Delhi Capitals stifle National basketball player calls Royals to go top of the table for more competition in Linden Rajasthan ESPNcricinfo - It turns The Capitals kept pushing Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh

By Calvin Chapman Guyana and Victory Valley Royals’ Power Forward, Harold Adams who was part of the historic Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) senior men’s team that won the nation’s first Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) championship in 2018 in Suriname has called for more competitive play in the ‘Mining Town’.

In an exclusive interview with Kaieteur Sport, the 32 year-old divulged that even before the covid-19 pandemic, play has been stagnant in Linden and since returning home after winning the 2018 CBC championships, there has not been any competition which is sad because despite all the odds and challenges faced, the players proved that local basketball deserves support. On September 11, 2017, Adams broke a 33-yearold scoring record of most points by a Guyanese player in a senior competition after pouring in 111 points in Victory Valley Royals’ 206-46 points win over Bankers Trust Falcons.

He bettered Auric Tappin’s 59 points for YMCA Kings against Mackenzie Knicks at the MSC Hard Court which was achieved in 1984. Adams suggested that if competition can be played regularly, not only in Linden

Lawrence Simon LABA President

Harold Adams

but the entire country, more records would be set and more importantly, players would stay motivated.

‘Mr. 111’ resides in Victory Valley and he posited that basketball has lost many players to other sports including football and cricket; moves he identifies with because of the state of affairs of the game in Region 10.

“It’s really hard to sit around and wait for a year or two for competition and then when you make the country proud, you don’t get any kind of support from the state.

Being motivated now is even more difficult due to the Covid-19 pandemic which even restricts recreational play”, Adams noted.

Kaieteur Sport reached out to President of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), Lawrence Simon, who

confirmed that indeed the Association has not been able to host senior tournaments since 2018.

However, Simon revealed that LABA has been more frequent in the hosting of Under-23 and below tournaments since it is more cost effective which is not the case with senior club tournaments since senior players are usually adamant for cash prizes.

The President noted that his association finds difficulty in getting sufficient funding for cash prizes from the corporate community.

Looking ahead though, Adams remains optimistic that Guyana would be able to remain competitive in the CBC arena and spoke highly of youngsters Yannick Tappin and Danny Lee, both of whom are part of Victory Valley Royals.

Argentina, Uruguay edge wins as South American qualifiers begin FIFA - The road to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ officially got underway in South America on Thursday.

Arguably the world’s most arduous and competitive of all continental journeys duly delivered, with three tightly contested matches and superstar names on the scoresheet.

Luis Suarez had the honour of scoring the first goal in Qatar 2022 South American zone qualifiers. His penalty was cancelled out by Chile captain Alexis Sanchez soon after the break in Montevideo, but Uruguay snatched all three points with a dramatic Maxi Gomez winner three minutes into added time.

There was similar late drama amid a second-half goal flurry in Asuncion. Substitute Angel Romero netted a double within 15 minutes for Paraguay, but Peru’s Andre Carrillo scored at each end of the second period - the latter with just five minutes remaining - to ensure the Russia 2018 participants

out, you can defend a score of less than 200 in Sharjah in IPL 2020. Not just defend, but win comprehensively by 46 runs, as the Delhi Capitals did against the Rajasthan Royals on Friday after putting up 184 for 8.

You need to have the bowling for it, and the batsmen should treat a T20 match for what it is: a chance to hit out even when you lose wickets because you have ten of them across 20 overs. This was not the typical Sharjah pitch however, with the wear and tear of playing several matches perhaps beginning to tell.

The ball gripped a bit from a length which made hitting through the line not as straightforward a proposition.

The boundaries were still as small as ever, and though both sides suffered from their top orders not firing, the Capitals had the depth and intent to overcome that. The Royals didn’t.

The Royals did a lot of things right at the start of the match, from winning the toss and opting to chase, to giving a distinct pace tilt to their attack, to not letting any of the Capitals’ top four get more than 25.

Jofra Archer was supreme, taking 3 for 24 and giving up a mere three runs in the innings’ last over. But the collective might of the Capitals bowling attack against a batting line-up that depends heavily on their top order to do the heavy lifting meant all that early good work was undone.

hard when batting, Marcus Stoinis and Shimron Hetmyer marshalled a series of punchy lower-order partnerships to carry the Capitals to a healthy total. The bowlers then showed why the Capitals are among the title favourites this year by tying down the Royals, who eventually limped to 138.

R Ashwin led the way, brought on in the third over and striking third ball to remove Jos Buttler. It wasn’t at the non-striker’s end this time though. This was a dismissal that would have pleased the traditionalists too, the ball dipping classically on the batsman and forcing a mis-hit to square leg, where Shikhar Dhawan pulled off a diving catch.

The Royals never seemed to recover from that blow, as the innings meandered without momentum, while every Capitals bowler got at least one wicket.

Archer, Aaron, pace and run-outs - On a ground where batsmen have made merry, the Royals had come in with a clear bowling plan: to bowl fast and into the pitch, not putting anything near the batsmen.

Archer bowled only two slower balls in his entire four overs, while the Royals also brought in Varun Aaron for his first game. According to ESPNcricinfo’s length data, there were only five full balls in the entire powerplay.

While Archer accounted for openers Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw, some poor judgement of singles meant

Pant were both run out. Iyer was too early out of the blocks when Pant pushed to short cover, and couldn’t get back in time when Yashasvi Jaiswal collected and hit the nonstriker’s stumps direct. Pant himself had a strange run-out, having almost jogged three quarters of the way down when Stoinis had just tapped the ball to short midwicket, an easy run-out at the nonstriker ’s end. With the Capitals at 79 for 4 in 9.2 overs, the Royals had a distinct chance.

Stoinis, Hetmyer lead revival - Stoinis’ intent was best summed up the ball immediately after Pant was out. Rahul Tewatia, who had an excellent bowling day otherwise, floated one too full and Stoinis biffed it straight over long-on. He hit four sixes in his 30-ball 39, trusting his form and power to smash anything that was pitched up.

Hetmyer got his eye in and then smashed the pacers around, particularly in the arc between wide long-on and wide long-off. He was out for 45 off 24 with three overs still remaining, but Axar Patel ensured the finish wouldn’t be tame with a cameo of 17 off 8 as the Capitals got 97 in the last 10 overs despite having lost their top four inside the first half.

Delhi Capitals 184 for 8 (Hetmyer 45, Stoinis 39, Archer 3-24) beat Rajasthan Royals 138 all out (Tewatia 38, Jaiswal 34, Rabada 3-35, Stoinis 2-17, Ashwin 2-22) by 46 runs.

Queen’s Birthday Honours: Marcus Rashford becomes MBE

Lionel Messi scores from the penalty mark. avoided defeat in their opening Qatar 2022 qualifier.

In Buenos Aires, meanwhile, Lionel Messi once again grabbed the headlines as his lone early penalty proved enough for

Argentina to edge victory over E c u a d o r.

The Argentina skipper slotted home in the 13th-minute as the two-time world champions made a low-key (Continued on page 27)

BBCsport - England and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has become an MBE (Members of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. The footballer, 22, campaigned for the government to allow about 1.3 million children to claim free school meal vouchers in England’s summer holidays during the coronavirus pandemic.

Rashford, who has asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson to extend that scheme, said the MBE was a “nice moment”. Great North Run founder Brendan Foster has received a Knighthood. A Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion, Foster competed at three Olympics for Great Britain before beginning a commentary career in 1980.

He founded the Great North Run - the UK’s biggest running event in terms of participation - the following year, and went on to cover nine summer Olympic Games for the BBC, retiring from commentary in 2017.

In rugby union, former Wales head coach Warren Gatland and Gareth Thomas who played for the country in both union and league have become CBEs (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), while Alun Wyn Jones, the team’s current captain, has been appointed an OBE (Officers of the Order of the British Empire).

Three-time British Olympic curler Eve Muirhead, of Scotland, has become an MBE, along with England’s 12-time women’s world snooker champion Reanne

Marcus Rashford Evans and former England cricketer Darren Gough.

The Queen’s Birthday Honours list was originally scheduled to be published in June, but it was postponed by the prime minister to allow nominations of people who played crucial roles during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic.

PAGE 34

Saturday October 10, 2020

Kaieteur News

Windies could face ease from COVID-19 bubble: Harper

Giro d’Italia: Arnaud Demare wins second straight stage in sprint finish

West Indies could face an ease in the bio-secure bubble.

The stage was decided by a sprint finish as Arnaud Demare took the honours.(Getty Images)

Bridgetown, Barbados, CMC – West Indies are not expected to face the psychological challenge of a complete bio-secure bubble on their tour of New Zealand starting next month, because of the efficient manner in which public health authorities in the south Pacific nation have managed the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Caribbean side were subjected to a stringent protocols on the tour of England last July where players were forced to hunker down in hotels based at the playing venues, with limited or no interaction with the general public.

However, the United Kingdom has been hard hit by the pandemic, resulting in halfmillion recorded infections and 57 000 deaths while New Zealand remarkably has reported only 1800 infections and 25 deaths.

There are currently only 39 active cases. Convenor of selectors, Roger Harper, said while all cricket tours would now be guided by COVID-19 protocols as part of a new normal of the international game, New Zealand would provide some respite for players from the difficult mental grind of constant lockdown outside of cricket.

“This is the state of the world. There are a lot of people because of the situation who do not have an opportunity to work and I think this is the perspective we have to look at this from,” the former West Indies offspinner told the Mason and Guest Cricket Show on Starcom Radio here.

“We have an opportunity to work, we have the opportunity to play something which I’d like to think they love doing. I know it’s challenging being away from home at this time being in a different environment but I think we have to look at things from the positive perspective and I think … we have to make adjustments.

“New Zealand is a little different to England in that they have managed to be in not a bad a place relative to the COVID-19

virus as most places around the world … so they (players) won’t be in a complete bubble so to speak.

“Once the squad quarantines and they’re no infections and everything is fine, they’ll have the opportunity to move around freely so psychologically that should be a lot easier.”

West Indies will clash with the Black Caps in three Twenty20 Internationals and two Tests from November 27 to December 15, in their second tour in four months, following the resumption of international cricket.

The squad, which was this week finalised but yet to be announced, will leave the Caribbean on October 27 to facilitate mandatory quarantine and a training camp, in the buildup to the series which gets underway with a T20 International in Auckland.

According to Harper, arriving a month early in New Zealand would be key to the side’s preparations. “It will work out a little bit better [than remaining in the Caribbean] because the players can have their quarantine and get acclimatised to the actual conditions in which they’ll be competing,” Harper pointed out.

West Indies face a stiff

challenge especially in the longer format as they have not won a Test series on New Zealand soil in 25 years.

Furthermore, they have won just three of their last 19 Tests against the hosts and only seven of their last 20 Tests overall.

However, following on from their series win against England in the Caribbean last year and an impressive victory in the first Test at Southampton last July, Harper is hopeful West Indies can flourish in New Zealand.

“I would like to think that we can build on the performance in England,” Harper said. “We won a Test match in England. We won a Test match overseas – something we haven’t been doing that consistently in the past.

“And while I thought we were in a position to do much better from the way the tour turned out, we’d like to go to New Zealand and be able to build on that, win a Test match over there and try and win the series.

“New Zealand, by the way, is no team to be under-rated.

They play very well and extremely well at home and they beat India in a series down there [recently] so we know it’s going to be tough but I think we are capable of putting up very competitive performances in New Zealand.”

China’s CCTV sports channel to show NBA games from Saturday: state media Hong Kong (Reuters) Chinese state television said on Friday that it will resume airing National Basketball Association (NBA) games on its sports channel on the morning of Oct. 10, almost a year after it halted broadcasts of the competition following a diplomatic spat.

The broadcaster stopped showing NBA games last October after a Houston Rockets executive tweeted support for Hong Kong protesters last year. A staterun CCTV spokesperson

said it had taken note of the goodwill expressed by the NBA for some time.

“Since the beginning of this year, the NBA has made active efforts to support the Chinese people in their fight against COVID-19,” the spokesperson said, adding that basketball in China has a wide range of fans.

CCTV holds exclusive TV rights in China for the NBA, while tech giant Tencent Holdings has exclusive internet streaming rights in the country.

BBCsport - Frenchman Arnaud Demare proved strongest in a sprint finish to claim his second straight stage victory and third overall at the Giro d’Italia.

The Groupama-FDJ rider surged clear of Slovakian Peter Sagan and Australian Michael Matthews to win the 143km seventh stage from Matera to Brindisi.

Portuguese rider Joao Almeida of Deceuninck keeps the overall lead. “The work my team did was amazing,” said Demare.

“I waited and I launched my sprint at the right moment.”

After some earlier splits, the race came back together for the final 20km to set up a bunch sprint to the finish but no one able to find the room to challenge Demare, the French national champion.

“My team-mates have

made the difference even more than the great confidence I have these days,” he added.

Sagan, riding in his debut Giro, took a familiar second place - his third of the race as he still seeks a first win in the Italian Grand Tour.Tao Geoghegan Hart remains the best placed Briton in 19th place, three minutes and 18 seconds down, with James Knox in 20th and Yates still 21st at three minutes and 52 seconds.

Stage seven result: 1.

Arnaud Demare (Fra/ Groupama-FDJ) 2hrs 47mins 28secs 2. Peter Sagan (Svk/ Bora-Hansgrohe) Same time 3. Michael Matthews (Aus/ Team Sunweb) 4. Ben Swift (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) 5. Álvaro Hodeg (Col/ Deceuninck-Quick-Step) 6.

Rudy Barbier (Fra/Israel StartUp Nation) 7. Davide Ballerini (Ita/Deceuninck-Quick-Step)

8. Enrico Battaglin (Ita/ Bahrain-McLaren) 9. Filippo Fiorelli (Ita/Bardiani-CSFFaizane) 10. Elia Viviani (Ita/ Cofidis).

General classification: 1.

Joao Almeida (Por/ Deceuninck-Quick-Step) 24hrs 48mins 29secs 2. Pello Bilbao (Spa/BahrainMcLaren) +43secs 3. Wilco Kelderman (Ned/Team Sunweb) +48secs 4. Harm Vanhoucke (Bel/LottoSoudal) +1min 05secs 5.

Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/TrekSegafredo) +1min 07secs 6.

Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/ NTT Pro Cycling Team) +1min 11secs 7. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/JumboVisma) +1min 21secs 8. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana Pro Team) +1min 25secs 9. Rafal Majka (Pol/Bora-Hansgrohe) +1min 32secs 10. Patrick Konrad (Aut/BoraHansgrohe) Same time.

Formula 1: Fog prevents Eifel Grand Prix practice BBCsport - Low cloud forced the cancellation of both Friday (yesterday) practice sessions at the Eifel Grand Prix. The medical helicopter was unable to fly at the Nurburgring as a result of the conditions, which meant the cars could not run on safety grounds.

F1 rules dictate that the road journey to a suitable hospital must be no longer than 20 minutes, and the nearest medical facilities are 54km away. The teams will now have one practice session on Saturday (today) before qualifying.

The lack of running meant that Ferrari young drivers Mick Schumacher and Callum Ilott were unable to have their scheduled outings in the Alfa Romeo and Haas cars in the first session. Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto said that the pair may get another chance later in the season.

The Eifel Grand Prix is live on the BBC Sport website.

The pair are potential candidates for a seat in F1 next season with both Haas and Alfa Romeo yet to decide on their driver line-ups.

World champion Lewis Hamilton enters the weekend with a 44-point lead over teammate Valtteri Bottas and has the chance to equal Michael Schumacher’s all-time record of 91 Grand Prix victories on Sunday (tomorrow).

The world champion’s

Mercedes team have had two personnel test positive for coronavirus at the Grand Prix, with a further four isolating as close contacts. Team boss Toto Wolff said: “It is not a good situation but I guess it is something that will follow us for quite a while. “I think we have it under control from having back-up back in (the factory in) Brackley and in that respect we should be in control of the situation.”

Kaieteur News

Saturday October 10, 2020

Female players being taken through the paces

by Coach Winston Smith at the Area ‘H’ Ground.

BCB restarts Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching sessions under strict Covid-19 guidelines

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) one week ago recommenced its 2020 Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching programme after a stoppage of six months due to the corona virus pandemic. The Programme is being sponsored by Texas based Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh.

The sessions are being led by BCB Head Coach Winston Smith who holds a Level Three Coaching certificate. Smith visited the Port Mourant Ground one week ago where he conducted a two-hour batting clinic with 10 members of the Port Mourant Cricket Club while on Sunday he was at the Area ‘H’ Ground where another batting clinic was hosted for female players.

BCB President Hilbert Foster and Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu visited

both venues during the sessions. The BCB President encouraged the players to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them by the board and Dr. Singh.

He advised the youths to put into practice, at home, what they would have learned at the sessions. The players were assured that the BCB would always put their welfare first and would continue to invest heavily in their development as it was determined to make sure that the legacy of Rohan Kanhai and Basil Butcher lives on.

Foster also cautioned the youths to stay away from crime, drugs and the evil ways of satan whilst speaking on the importance of education and staying in school. The BCB, he promised would assist them in any way possible to complete their educational

pursuits.

Coach Smith used the session to explain the five principles of the batting stance, bat grip, set up while emphasis was also placed on physical fitness and running between the wickets. Naidu disclosed that at the completion of the batting clinics, the BCB would host a similar amount for bowlers across Berbice.

He noted that the sessions were held under the strict government Covid-19 guidelines of social distancing, regular cleaning of hands, wearing of face masks and a limited amount of players, among others.

Sessions will continue t h i s We d n e s d a y f r o m 15:00hrs for members of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club while the Rose Hall Canje Ground will be the next venue on Saturday with Edinburgh on Sunday.

Teenager Swiatek’s handling of pressure key in Paris final Paris (Reuters) - Recent history in women’s Grand Slam finals suggest that Iga Swiatek’s lack of experience might not be a problem when she takes on Sofia Kenin in the French Open final, yet Roland Garros can be tough on the youngsters. Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams in the 2018 U.S. Open final, then Petra Kvitova at the (Continued on page 31)

Sofia Kenin.

USA Today

Iga Swiatek.

Jimmie48/WTA

PAGE 35

Champion of Champions dominoes commences today Under strict Covid-19 guidelines, the Champion of Champions Dominoes competition commences today at R and R Domino Club, 76 Meadowbrook Gardens at 13:30hrs. Senior Organising Secretary of the Guyana Domino League, Mark Wiltshire informed that the competition will conclude tomorrow and entrance fee is $15,000.

He added that the tournament will be played on a six-game, six sittings, two in one out basis. Among the teams slated to take part are Quiet Storm, Mix Up, Gold is Money, Big Boss, Fresh Cash, OPKO, Master, Big Boss Girls, West Side, Phantom, Spartans, Executive, Turning Point, Loyalty, Gangster, Players, C7, UFO and All Seasons.

The competition is being sponsored by Trophy Stall, Merriman’s Funeral Home, Bardon Construction Services, Big Boss Trucking Service and Dearaj Singh Sawmill of Parika. Teams can contact Wiltshire on 659 8672 for registration.

Mark Wiltshire displays the first place prize which is being sponsored by Dearaj Singh Sawmill of Parika.

GAPLF cancels all events for 2020 The Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation has issued a release notifying its members and the public that no event would be held for 2020. Following is the full text of that release.

“Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all activities for the remainder of 2020. There will be no participation in any international competitions, until there is guaranteed safety for our athletes and officials.

This pandemic has presented many

health and safety issues. As such it would be ill-advised for us to hold events, without potentially placing everyone at our events at risk. We have appreciated your support over the years and we look forward to resuming events in 2021.

Meanwhile, the Executive members of the GAPLF offers their prayers and best wishes to all who have been affected by this pandemic and hope for a quick return to normalcy for us all.

Thank you for your patience and please stay safe.”

rt o p S Royals’ Harold Adams attempts to net a jump shot as Pacesetters’ Stephan Gillis looks to block.

Impressive Delhi Capitals stifle Rajasthan Royals to go top of the table

National basketball player calls for more competition in Linden Marcus Stoinis celebrates a breakthrough ©BCCI

Shimron Hetmyer takes a low catch ©BCCI

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